Limitations of Cold Sodium Sulfite Titration Methods for Free Formaldehyde in Textiles

Abstract

One of the more important analytical methods for formaldehyde in a finished textile is the cold sodium sulfite analysis for free or unbound formaldehyde. Because this formaldehyde assay can represent the equilibrium formaldehyde in a finish or reagent and therefore that formaldehyde available for consumer exposure, values obtained should be free of bias. Interferences and limitations of cold sodium sulfite analyses for formaldehyde are detailed and techniques to surmount the limitations are presented.