Biomaterial Database

Improved measurement of formaldehyde in water-soluble polymers by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with post-column reaction detection. 2001

J J Michels

Global Research Analytical Resources, Nalco Chemical Company, Naperville, IL 60563-1198, USA. jmichels@nalco.com

An improved methodology for the analysis of free formaldehyde in water-soluble polymers used for industrial water treatment is reported. Previously, derivatization prior to HPLC or colorimetric techniques has been used. The data generated by these approaches are suspect in that the derivatizing agent can react with the polymer or other sample components to produce high results. Post-column reaction derivatization is applied after separation of the free formaldehyde from the product interferences. The type of polymer product analyzed influences the choice of column(s). The degree of high bias of the commonly used 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine pre-column derivatization is reported and the results are compared to those with the post-column reaction for two polymer products. This method, being more selective, should be applicable to any polymer containing formaldehyde.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011108	Polymers	Compounds formed by the joining of smaller, usually repeating, units linked by covalent bonds. These compounds often form large macromolecules (e.g., BIOPOLYMERS; PLASTICS).	Polymer
D002851	Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid	Liquid chromatographic techniques which feature high inlet pressures, high sensitivity, and high speed.	Chromatography, High Performance Liquid,Chromatography, High Speed Liquid,Chromatography, Liquid, High Pressure,HPLC,High Performance Liquid Chromatography,High-Performance Liquid Chromatography,UPLC,Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography,Chromatography, High-Performance Liquid,High-Performance Liquid Chromatographies,Liquid Chromatography, High-Performance
D005557	Formaldehyde	A highly reactive aldehyde gas formed by oxidation or incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons. In solution, it has a wide range of uses: in the manufacture of resins and textiles, as a disinfectant, and as a laboratory fixative or preservative. Formaldehyde solution (formalin) is considered a hazardous compound, and its vapor toxic. (From Reynolds, Martindale The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p717)	Formalin,Formol,Methanal,Oxomethane
D012680	Sensitivity and Specificity	Binary classification measures to assess test results. Sensitivity or recall rate is the proportion of true positives. Specificity is the probability of correctly determining the absence of a condition. (From Last, Dictionary of Epidemiology, 2d ed)	Specificity,Sensitivity,Specificity and Sensitivity
D012995	Solubility	The ability of a substance to be dissolved, i.e. to form a solution with another substance. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Solubilities
D013056	Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet	Determination of the spectra of ultraviolet absorption by specific molecules in gases or liquids, for example Cl2, SO2, NO2, CS2, ozone, mercury vapor, and various unsaturated compounds. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry
D014867	Water	A clear, odorless, tasteless liquid that is essential for most animal and plant life and is an excellent solvent for many substances. The chemical formula is hydrogen oxide (H2O). (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)	Hydrogen Oxide