Effect of Surfactants on Formaldehyde Volatility in Specimen Preservatives

Objective To examine the effect of surfactant on formaldehyde volatility in specimen preservatives.

Methods Specimen preservatives(100 mL)(formaldehyde concentration, 10%) were poured into several 500 mL beakers. Then 0.01 mL octadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride ethanol solution(100 mg/m³) and 0.01 mL dimethyl silicone oil-vinyl silicone oil mixture(100 mg/m³) were added respectively to establish experiment group 1 and experiment group 2. A control group was also established. Three samples of each group were put into thermotanks at temperatures of 10℃, 20℃, 30℃, and 40℃ for 2 h respectively. Another three samples of each group were put into thermotanks at temperature of 20 ℃ and humidity of 40%, 60%, and 80% for 2 h respectively. Samples were put into the draught cupboards yielding different wind speeds for 2 h. The volatile volume of formaldehyde was calculated through measuring formaldehyde concentrations of the post-treatment samples after designed standing time.

Results In the control group, arising formaldehyde volatile volume was along with increasing temperature and wind speed as well as decreasing humidity. The volatile volumes of the experiment groups 1 and 2 were significantly lower than that of the control group(P < 0.05), and the volume of the experiment group 2 was lower than that of the experiment group 1(P < 0.05).

Conclusion Both octadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride ethanol solution and dimethyl silicone oil-vinyl silicone oil mixture can effectively restrain formaldehyde volatilization, and the latter is better.