Abstract: | ABSTRACT A method for determination of trace quantities of acetaldehyde based on its inhibition effect on the malachite green-sulfite reaction is described. The reaction is monitored spectrophotometrically by measuring the decrease in absorbance at 613 nm by a fixed time method of 60 seconds. The method allows the determination of acetaldehyde in the range of 0.2-10 μg/ml. The limit of detection was 0.1 μg/ml and the relative standard deviation for ten determinations of 2 μg/ml acetaldehyde was 1.8%. The method is applied to the determination of acetaldehyde in chemical industrial waste water with satisfactory results. |