On-Line Monitoring of Formaldehyde In Water and Air Using Chemiluminescence Detection

A rapid and sensitive chemiluminescence flow sensor for the determination of formaldehyde was proposed in this article. The analytical reagents involved in chemiluminescence (CL) reaction, luminol and KIO₄, were both immobilized on an anion-exchange column. The CL signal produced by the reaction between luminol and KIO₄, which were eluted from the column through water injection, was decreased in the presence of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde was sensed by measuring the decrement of CL intensity, which was observed linear over the logarithm of formaldehyde concentration range of 5.0-1000.0 ng mL^?1, and the limit of detection is 1.8 ng mL^?1 (3σ). At a flow rate of 2.0 mL min^?1, including sampling and washing, could be performed in 0.5 min with a relative standard deviation of less than 3.0%. The flow sensor offered reagentless procedures and remarkable stability in determination of formaldehyde, and could be easily re-used over 80 h. The proposed flow microsensor was applied successfully in the determination of formaldehyde in artificial water samples and air.