Formaldehyde CH₂O

Formaldehyde (CH₂O) is a naturally occurring compound known for its pungent, irritating odor. It is used in several industrial applications. It is often used as a precursor to more complex compounds with industrial uses. It is also used as a disinfectant to kill bacteria and fungi and is used to preserve tissues or cells for scientific analysis.

CH₂O is toxic to humans and animals. Occupational exposure is mainly through inhaling the vapors. The thermal/chemical decomposition of formaldehyde-based resins or emissions from formaldehyde solutions commonly cause these vapors. It can cause headaches, difficulty breathing, and a burning sensation in the throat.

Aeroqual’s formaldehyde sensor head incorporates an electrochemical gas sensor. This sensor generates an electrical current in nA, which is proportional to the concentration of CH₂O that comes in contact with the sensor. The sensor current is converted to a voltage and this voltage is used to calculate CH₂O concentration.

The table below contains the formaldehyde sensor head specifications. It can be used on our Ranger, S Series and Series 900 products, for industrial health and safety.

Although the GSE sensor in the CH₂O sensor head is designed to measure CH₂O, it does show cross-interferences to other gases. The table below shows the response in ppm of the CH₂O GSE sensor heads to different gases