Comparison of the Chromotropic Acid and Pararosaniline Methods for Measuring Formaldehyde Concentrations of Pressed-Wood Product Emissions

Abstract

Formaldehyde concentrations of particleboard emissions in special measuring chambers were determined by both the chromotropic acid and pararosaniline methods, and the results were compared. Airborne and formalin-based calibration methods were compared also. An additional experiment was done to consider the possibility that aspects of the measuring system other than the calibration could bias results obtained from either analytical method. Synthetic formaldehyde atmospheres were substituted for pressed-wood products in the measuring chambers, and the concentrations were measured by both the chromotropic acid and pararosaniline methods. Formaldehyde concentrations determined by the chromotropic and pararosaniline methods agreed both on synthetic formaldehyde atmospheres and on emissions from five lots of particleboard from four different manufacturers.