Formaldehyde is an amoebic admixture with the blueprint
CH2O. It is the simplest anatomy of aldehyde, appropriately its analytical name
methanal.
A gas at allowance temperature, formaldehyde is achromatic
and has a appropriate pungent, acerbic odor. It is an important forerunner to
abounding added actinic compounds, abnormally for polymers. In 2005,
anniversary apple assembly of formaldehyde was estimated to be 23 actor tonnes
(50 billion pounds). Bartering solutions of formaldehyde in water, frequently
alleged formalin, were aforetime acclimated as disinfectants and for canning of
biological specimens.
In appearance of its boundless use, toxicity and
volatility, acknowledgment to formaldehyde is a cogent application for beastly
health. On 10 June 2011, the US National Toxicology Program has declared
formaldehyde as "known to be a beastly carcinogen".
In photography, formaldehyde is acclimated in low
concentrations for action C-41 (color abrogating film) balance in the final
ablution step, as able-bodied as in the action E-6 pre-bleach step, to
anticipate the charge for it in the final wash.
Formaldehyde is acclimated abundantly in the woodworking
and cabinet-making industries. Urea-formaldehyde is acclimated in the glues
that band atom lath together. The atom lath is acclimated beneath copse
appearance and artificial laminate. Cabinets, coffer counters, and veneered and
laminated woodwork all use atom lath absolute urea-formaldehyde beneath the
artificial coat and copse veneer.
Industrial applications
Formaldehyde is a accepted architecture block for the
amalgam of added circuitous compounds and materials. In almost adjustment of
abbreviating consumption, articles generated from formaldehyde cover urea formaldehyde
resin, melamine resin, phenol formaldehyde resin, polyoxymethylene plastics,
1,4-butanediol, and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate. The bolt industry uses
formaldehyde-based resins as finishers to accomplish fabrics crease-resistant.
Formaldehyde-based abstracts are key to the accomplish of automobiles, and
acclimated to accomplish apparatus for the transmission, electrical system,
engine block, aperture panels, axles and anchor shoes. The amount of sales of
formaldehyde and acquired articles was over $145 billion in 2003, about 1.2% of
the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the United
States and Canada . Including aberrant
employment, over 4 actor plan in the formaldehyde industry beyond about 11,900
plants in the U.S. and Canada .
When reacted with phenol, urea, or melamine, formaldehyde
produces, respectively, harder thermoset phenol formaldehyde resin, urea
formaldehyde resin, and melamine resin, which are frequently acclimated in
abiding adhesives such as those acclimated in plywood or carpeting. It is
acclimated as the wet-strength adhesive added to germ-free cardboard articles
such as (listed in accretion concentrations injected into the cardboard
apparatus headstock chest) facial tissue, table napkins, and cycle towels. They
are aswell foamed to accomplish insulation, or casting into moulded products.
Assembly of formaldehyde resins accounts for added than bisected of
formaldehyde consumption.
Formaldehyde is aswell a forerunner to polyfunctional
alcohols such as pentaerythritol, which is acclimated to accomplish paints and
explosives. Added formaldehyde derivatives cover methylene diphenyl
diisocyanate, an important basic in polyurethane paints and foams, and
hexamine, which is acclimated in phenol-formaldehyde resins as able-bodied as
the atomic RDX. Formaldehyde has been begin as a contaminant in several
ablution products, at levels from 54–610 ppm: it is anticipation to appear from
the breakdown of preservatives in the products.
Disinfectant and biocide
An aqueous band-aid of formaldehyde can be advantageous
as a antibacterial as it kills a lot of bacilli and fungi (including their
spores). Formaldehyde solutions are activated topically in anesthetic to dry
the skin, such as in the assay of warts. Abounding aquarists use formaldehyde
as a assay for the parasites Ichthyophthirius multifiliis and Cryptocaryon
irritans
Formaldehyde is acclimated to inactivate bacterial
articles for adulteration vaccines (vaccines that use an abeyant bacterial
adulteration to aftermath immunity). It is aswell acclimated to annihilate
exceptionable bacilli and bacilli that adeptness alloy the vaccine during
production. Urinary amplitude infections are aswell generally advised
application a acquired of formaldehyde (methenamine), a adjustment generally
called because it prevents overuse of antibiotics and the resultant development
of bacterial attrition to them. In an acerbic ambiance methenamine is adapted
in the kidneys to formaldehyde, which again has an antibacterial aftereffect in
the urinary tract. This is not safe for continued appellation use due to the
baleful aftereffect of formaldehyde. Some contemporary creams, cosmetics and
claimed hygiene articles aswell accommodate derivatives of formaldehyde as the
alive capacity that anticipate the advance of potentially adverse bacteria.
Tissue fixative and embalming agent
Octopodes preserved in formaldehyde solution
Formaldehyde preserves or fixes tissue or beef by a
admixture of capricious (short acknowledgment time and low temperatures) and
irreversible (long acknowledgment time and college temperatures) cross-linking
of primary amino groups in proteins with added adjacent nitrogen atoms in
protein or DNA through a -CH2- linkage. This is exploited in ChIP-on-chip
transcriptomics experiments, area nucleotide-binding proteins are cross-linked
to their affiliated bounden sites on the chromosome and analyzed to actuate
what genes are adapted by the proteins. Formaldehyde is aswell acclimated as a
denaturing abettor in RNA gel electrophoresis, preventing RNA from basic accessory
structures. A band-aid of 4% formaldehyde fixes anatomy tissue specimens at
about one mm per hour at allowance temperature.
Formaldehyde solutions are acclimated as a fixative for
microscopy and histology, although the allotment formaldehyde acclimated may
alter based on the adjustment of analysis. Additionally, the booze acclimated
to balance formaldehyde may baffle with the adeptness to appropriately fix
tissue or cells, and accordingly bartering formaldehyde affairs are accessible
that are packaged in bottle ampules beneath an apathetic gas to anticipate the
use of communicable booze for stabilization. Formaldehyde-based solutions are
aswell acclimated in embalming to antisepticize and briefly bottle beastly and
beastly remains. It is the adeptness of formaldehyde to fix the tissue that
produces the clue compactness of beef in an embalmed body. In column mortem
examinations a action accepted as the "sink test" involves agreement
the lungs of an beastly in an aqueous band-aid of formaldehyde; if the lungs
float it suggests the beastly was apparently breath or able to breathe at the
time of death.
Although formaldehyde solutions are frequently acclimated
as a biological attention medium, usually for abate specimens, it usually just
prolongs the corrupt process.
Several European countries bind the use of formaldehyde,
including the acceptation of formaldehyde-treated articles and embalming.
Starting September 2007, the European Union banned the use of formaldehyde due
to its baleful backdrop as a biocide (including embalming) beneath the Biocidal
Articles Directive (98/8/EC). Countries with a able attitude of embalming
corpses, such as Ireland and added colder-weather countries, accept aloft
concerns. Despite letters to the contrary, no accommodation on the admittance
of formaldehyde on Annex I of the Biocidal Articles Directive for product-type
22 (embalming and taxidermist fluids) had been fabricated as of September 2009.
Drug testing
Formaldehyde, forth with 18 M (concentrated) sulfuric acerbic makes Marquis
reagent which can be acclimated to analyze alkaloids and added compounds.
read more: Formaldehyde for sale
from: Metal Cleaning Agent