Formaldehyde (FA) is a colorless, strong-smelling gas and common indoor air pollutant. Many studies reported that exposure to FA may cause skin, eyes and respiratory irritation. Also, it can result in asthma, contact dermatitis and allergy.  FA is categorized  as a human carcinogen (Group 1) based on increased incidences of nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia. Several analytical chromatographic methods are frequently used for detecting FA. The drawbacks of chromatographic methods are use a large amount of organic solvent and waste time. In this study, we develop a rapid and sensitive method for the determination of FA using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) after derivatization with a peptide. The analytical method can significantly reduce amount of sample, reagent and organic solvent (total volume <50 μL). Sample processing time can be just a few minutes and MALDI-TOF MS analysis works within a few seconds.

This is a non-colorimetric method is not affected by colored samples. It does not require a separation column and organic solvent or gas for separation purpose. It does not generate a large amount of organic waste, reagents and disposable consumables. The invention has high specificity, short reaction time with formaldehyde, and the detection time is less than 1 minute.

A specific and fast method for detection of formaldehyde in many fields, such as food company, cosmetic industry and air quality control.