On-site determination of formaldehyde: a low cost measurement device for museum environments

A trapping reagent for formaldehyde, based on the pararosaniline reaction, was evaluated as a method of determination of formaldehyde in the aqueous or vapour phase. Collection of formaldehyde vapour relied upon passive diffusion of formaldehyde into the trapping media and quantitative results were obtained without the need for liquid impingers, bubblers or active sampling pumps. Moreover, a novel, hand-held absorption spectrophotometric measurement device was designed to provide on-site, quantitative measurements. It is proposed that the full measurement system devised would be ideally suited to specific sampling applications such as those found in museum enclosures.