The Determination of Formaldehyde in Cellulose Formals and. Methylated Cellulose Formals

Abstract

It is shown that only Schiff's method is suitable for the determination of formaldehyde in methylated cellulose formals. These are intermediates in the elucidation of the struc ture of cotton cross-linked with formaldehyde. Some modifications of the usual pro cedure are recommended to obtain an accuracy of 3% relative to the amount of formaldehyde present. The modified Schiff's method was standardized with cellulose formals containing C 14 -formaldehyde whose activity was determined by ionization chamber assay after combustion to CO 2 . A routine determination of C 14 -formaldehyde in cellulose formals by the liquid scintillation method is also described.