Detection of formaldehyde via reactive dye fluorescence

The buildup of formaldehyde in closed space environments poses a direct health hazard to personnel. NASA has established a maximum permitted concentration of 0.04 ppm for 7 to 180 days for all spacecraft. Early detection is critical to insure that formaldehyde levels do not accumulate above these limits. This research explored the use of reactive fluorescent dyes which reversibly bind to formaldehyde as the basis for an optical formaldehyde sensor. The dye responses to formaldehyde exposure were characterized, demonstrating the optical detection of formaldehyde in less than 10 seconds and down to concentrations of 0.5 ppm. Multiple form factors using two dissimilar substrates were evaluated for suitability as sensor components. This research provides a necessary first step toward the development of a compact, reusable, real time optical formaldehyde sensor suitable for general use.