Quantitative Analysis of Gas-Phase Formaldehyde Molecular Species at Equilibrium with Formalin Solution

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ac00278a058

A method has been developed for quantitative analysis of vapor-phase formaldehyde condensates with water and methanol.Trimethylsilyl derivatives of the formaldehyde condensates were formed by gas-phase reaction with N,O-bis(trimethlsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA) which allowed their separation and quantitation.Methylal, methylene glycol, and a series of poly(oxymethylene)glycol monomethyl ethers accounted for the total formaldehyde content detected in the vapors at equilibrium with a formalin solution.Structures of the formaldehyde species were confirmed by capillary gas chromatography/chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC/CIMS) using ammonia as the reactant gas.