COMPARISON OF GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC AND SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC TECHNIQUES FOR THE DETERMINATION OF FORMALDEHYDE IN WATER

Formaldehyde was determined in aqueous samples by four different analy tical procedures (two spectrophotometric and two gas chromatographic). In the spectrophotometric procedures chromatogropic acid and 3-methyl -2-benzothiazolone hydrazone were used. For gas chromatography either an electron-captive or a flame ionization detector were used, and for sample preparation liquid-liquid extraction in the former and solid-ph ase extraction in the latter case were used. The concentration range c overed was between 0.06 and 20 mg/l. Calibration plots and detection l imits were optimized for all four procedures.