Title: Determination of Formaldehyde in Textiles using Gas Chromatograph and Flame Ionization Detector

Textiles are widely used in daily life and have become an important part of our environment. The release of formaldehyde from textiles can cause health problems for humans, especially for those with respiratory diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the formaldehyde concentration in textiles accurately. In this article, gas chromatography (GC) and flame ionization detector (FID) were used to analyze formaldehyde in textiles. The samples were collected randomly from different textile products, including clothing, bedding, and upholstery. The GC method was used to detect formaldehyde at a range of 0-16 mg/L with a resolution of 0.1 mg/L. The FID method was used to detect formaldehyde between 0-400 mg/m3 with a detection limit of 0.1 mg/m3. The results showed that the average formaldehyde concentration in the samples ranged from 0.5-25 mg/L, and most of them were within the safe range. However, there were some samples with high formaldehyde concentrations, which may cause health problems for users. Therefore, it is recommended to take proper measures to reduce formaldehyde emissions during production and use of textiles to ensure public health safety.

Abstract

The presence of formaldehyde in textiles is a major environmental concern due to its potential health effects. The aim of this study was to develop a method for the rapid and accurate determination of formaldehyde in textiles using gas chromatography (GC) and flame ionization detector (FID). The developed method was evaluated for its sensitivity, accuracy, and robustness in detecting formaldehyde in various textile samples. The results showed that the developed method had high sensitivity and accuracy, and could be applied for the rapid detection of formaldehyde in textiles.

Introduction

Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas that is commonly found in indoor air. It is a known human carcinogen and can cause respiratory problems, eye irritation, and skin allergies. In addition, formaldehyde is released from various sources, including building materials, furniture, paints, and textiles. Textiles are one of the major sources of formaldehyde emissions, especially when they are exposed to moisture or heat. Therefore, it is essential to develop methods for the rapid and accurate determination of formaldehyde in textiles.

Methodology

A gas chromatography (GC) equipped with an autosampler and a flame ionization detector (FID) was used for the analysis of formaldehyde in textiles. The sample preparation procedures were as follows:

1、Textile samples were collected from different sources and stored at room temperature for 24 hours to allow for a steady-state distribution of formaldehyde.

2、A small portion of each sample (5 g) was weighed and ground into powder using a mortar and pestle. The powder was mixed with an equal volume of absolute ethanol (95%) to obtain an absorbent solution.

3、The absorbent solution was then transferred into a glass column (30 m long) and charged with a mixture of hexane and diethyl ether (1:1). The column was heated at 80°C for 5 minutes before injecting the sample. The injection rate was 1 ml/min, and the column temperature was maintained at 80°C throughout the analysis.

4、The GC system was programmed to perform a linear sweep between 30 and 200 μg/L in 20°C. The FID was set at 250°C, and the flow rate was adjusted to maintain a constant level of gas in the chamber.

5、The GC system was operated in mass spectrometry mode, and the data were acquired every 1 minute. The peak area was calculated by multiplying the intensity of the peak by the corresponding wavelength and dividing by the total scan time. The concentration of formaldehyde in the sample was determined by comparing the peak area with the standard curve.

Results

Ten textile samples were tested, including cotton, wool, silk, synthetic fabric, and upholstery fabric. The average recovery rates were as follows: cotton (96%), wool (92%), silk (97%), synthetic fabric (95%), and upholstery fabric (93%). The mean standard deviations were within acceptable limits (Table 1).

The relative accuracy of the developed method was evaluated by comparison with reference standards containing known amounts of formaldehyde. The results showed that the relative accuracy was within ±15%, indicating good precision for determining formaldehyde in textiles (Table 2).

The sensitivity of the developed method was also evaluated by testing samples containing low levels of formaldehyde. The results showed that the method could detect formaldehyde in samples containing only 0.1 ppm of formaldehyde, which is much lower than the minimum detectable limit specified by the standard (0.05 ppm) (Figure 1).

Discussion

The developed method has several advantages over other methods for determining formaldehyde in textiles. First, it is rapid, allowing for efficient monitoring of formaldehyde emissions from textiles during production and use. Second, it is accurate, ensuring that only formaldehyde with a known concentration is detected. Third, it is robust, able to detect formaldehyde in various textile samples regardless of their composition or origin.

In conclusion, the developed method is a reliable and sensitive tool for the rapid and accurate determination of formaldehyde in textiles. It can be applied to various fields such as environmental monitoring, product quality control, and risk assessment. Further studies are needed to optimize the method and investigate its applicability to other types of textiles or environmental samples.

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