Blog >> The Dual-Edged Chemical: Formaldehyde
In the year 1859, Russian chemist Alexander Mikhaylovich Butlerov
attempted to synthesize the compound methylene glycol. Instead, he was
stupefied by the formation of a compound that was yet known to the field. The
chemical was not conclusively identified until 1868 by German chemist August
Wilhelm von Hofman who at that time was also the Director of the Royal College
of Chemistry in London. Today formaldehyde is known as a naturally occurring
compound comprising of elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and is one of the
simplest chemical compounds known to mankind. Having applications in various
industries such as paint and automotives, formaldehyde has revolutionized
production processes and mechanisms by virtue of its chemical and physical
properties. However, recent concerns have surfaced regarding formaldehyde as being
harmful to human health and regulations have hinted at the curtailing of its
use altogether. This post will serve to explicate the brief history of
formaldehyde, its rise during the 1800-1900s and eventual decline in the recent
decade, primarily due to its detrimental effect on the human body and
well-being.
It is necessary to
first introduce formaldehyde to our readers. Formaldehyde is an organic
compound with the chemical formula CH2O and is a colourless, flammable gaseous
chemical at room temperature with a characteristic smell. Also known as
methanal, formaldehyde is the simplest member of the aldehyde family and
derives its nomenclature from its close relation to formic acid. While existing
as a gas under room conditions, formaldehyde forms a variety of chemical
products upon condensation which find more practical use including
metaformaldehyde and paraformaldehyde.
Before its widespread
production and subsequent use in a multitude of industries today, the history
of formaldehyde has its roots in Germany, Belgium, France and the United States
in the early 1900s by Hoffman's proposed method and was manufactured primarily
for use as an embalming agent and medical preservative. It was originally
produced in minute quantities - around 5-20kg per plant - until optimization of
the production process allowed for commercially viable large-scale production.
The demand and use for
formaldehyde has steadily increased over the past century, mainly spurred by
development and research that directly or indirectly pose the need for
formaldehyde. For instance, the invention of the world's first synthetic
polymeric material Bakelite by Belgian chemist Dr Leo Baekeland concomitantly
allowed for the production of the first commercial-grade particleboard in
1940s, revolutionizing construction and furniture industries while driving up
demand for formaldehyde to previously unprecedented levels.
The recent century
has seen the use of formaldehyde as a precursor for many products across
industries. Chemicals used in the transmission and electrical systems, door
panels, engine block and brakes require the use of formaldehyde as the starting
product in their respective synthetic pathways. Formaldehyde resins are present
in facial tissues and table napkins to ensure they maintain their strength even
when wet. Urea-formaldehydes are utilized as foam insulators in homes situated
in countries with colder climates. Formaldehyde also has the unusual property
of halting the degradation of living tissue, allowing it to be used in the
preservation of both animal and human flesh. It is thus no surprise that one
notices a strongly pungent scent when one attends a funeral or enters a morgue - formaldehyde is injected into a dead body before being presented in a funeral.
Despite its
usefulness in both industrial and private sectors, formaldehyde has recently
come under much criticism with speculations that the chemical may even be
boycotted altogether. This is due to the fact that formaldehyde has been
discovered to present adverse effects to the human body. When its gaseous form
is present in surrounding air at levels exceeding 0.1 parts per million (ppm),
sensitive individuals may experience a range of undesirable symptoms such as
watery eyes, coughing, nausea and skin irritation. In 2011, the National
Toxicology Programme launched by the Department of Health and Human Services in
the United States classified formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen. Such
reports forecast an eventual decline in the use of formaldehyde for products
that require close human contact such as in paints and foam insulators.
Formaldehyde,
however, is not a lost cause that is to be abstained from indefinitely. The
aldehyde has been detected in space by spectroscopy and has since been observed
in many regions of the galaxy. While interstellar formaldehyde has varying
physical and chemical properties as that found on Earth, the compound has
allowed astro-scientists to determine quantities of carbon in the galactic disc
and various properties of neighbouring stars through advanced scientific
methodologies.
In essence, despite
the fact that formaldehyde has been identified as having the potential to cause
harm to general human health, it is important to recognize the contributions
this compound has. The history of formaldehyde has shown the providence this chemical
has allowed for in various industrial processes. As more research continues
underway, concerned parties might be best off funding projects aimed at finding
suitable substitutes for this versatile chemical or concede that formaldehyde
is a compound that, on a whole, presents too many benefits and that we can only
alleviate its risks.
Tradeasia
International supplies various grades of formaldehyde from reliable sources.
Our products are listed on www.paint-chemicals.com and further inquiries can be sent to
contact@chemtradeasia.com.
Written by Jonathan Quah.