Number
275-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Scientific research and development
Function
Other
Process
Manual maintenance(cleaning and repair) of machinery
Product category
laboratory chemicals
Application
Alternative method for determining formaldehyde
Abstract
A spectrophotometric method using magnesium sulphate instead of concentrated sulphuric acid is proposed for the analysis of formaldehyde in disinfectants and hair products.
Substituted substances
Sulphuric acid
CAS No. 7664-93-9 EC No. 231-639-5 Index No. 016-020-00-8
Chemical group
Inorganic acid
Classification: hazard statements
H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
Other adverse effects
Strong inorganic acid mists: 1 carcinogen (IARC) as listed in the Substance Database according to SUBSPORT Screening Criteria (SDSC).
Alternative Substances
Magnesium sulfate heptahydrate
CAS No. 10034-99-8 EC No. 231-298-2 Index No.
Chemical group
Magnesium compounds; sulfates
Reliability of information
Internet information: data are from an internet document and only a basic and partial evaluation could be performed
Reason substitution
skin/respiratory sensitizing
CMR
Hazard Assessment
Substance to be substituted: Sulphuric acid causes severe skin burns and eye damage. It forms strong inorganic acid mists containing sulfuric acid. Alternative substance: Magnesium sulphate heptahydrate is not included in the database for substances known to be of concern, according to SUBSPORTplus criteria. It is not classified according to EU harmonised legislation and is not self-classified in ECHA C&L Inventory database. The MSDS of one of the distributors identified possible irritation to skin, eye and respiratory tract due to exposure to magnesium sulphate heptahydrate (see Further information).
Description of Substitution
An alternative method for the analysis of formaldehyde in commercial products replaces concentrated sulphuric acid by magnesium sulphate. The method was applied in a laboratory study for the analysis of commercial disinfectants and defrizzing hair products containing illicit formaldehyde. Both the original and the alternative spectrophotometric methods are based on the reaction of formaldehyde with chromotropic acid. The original method (published by NIOSH 1994, method 3500(2) ) uses concentrated sulphuric acid heated on a steam bath (1000C) for about one hour. The alternative also includes the heating stage on the steam bath but uses a 60% magnesium sulphate (heptahydrate)aqueous solution instead of the corrosive sulphuric acid. The alternative method proved to have good selectivity for formaldehyde and high accuracy.
Case/substitution evaluation
The alternative is easy to implement. It reduces the chemical risks associated with the use of sulphuric acid, classified as “causes skin burns and eye damage”. Magnesium sulphate is not classified corrosive (it is however an irritant) and being a coarse powder it is easier to transport, store and manipulate compared liquid, concentrated sulphuric acid.
State of implementation
Pilot study
Availability of Alternative
Alternative is available on the market.
Type of information supplier
Research
Contact
Fabrícia Gasparini, Patrícia L. Weinert, Liliane S. Lima, Leonardo Pezza and Helena R. Pezza Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual Paulista, CP 355, 14801-970 Araraquara-SP, Brazil J. Braz. Chem. Soc., Vol. 19, No. 8, 1531-1537, 2008.,
Further information
- Magnesium sulphate heptahydrate M
Type of publication and availability
Article published in scientific journal, freely available
Publication source: author, company, institute, year
The information is based on the article A Simple and Green Analytical Method for the Determination of Formaldehyde writen by Fabrícia Gasparini, Patrícia L. Weinert, Liliane S. Lima, Leonardo Pezza and Helena R. Pezza and published in J. Braz. Chem. Soc., Vol. 19, No. 8, 1531-1537, 2008.
Publication source
Type of publication and availability
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/jbchs/v19n8/v19n8a12.pdf
Date, reviewed
November 26, 2021