( Reaffirmed 1998 )

Indian Standard
METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF FORMALDEHYDE CONTENT IN PARTICLE BOARD BY EXTRACTION METHOD CALLED PERFORATOR METHOD

UDC

674816-41 : 543 [ 5472811 ]

@ BIS 1993

BUREAU
MANAK June 1993

OF

INDIAN

STANDARDS
ZAFAR

BHAVAN,

9 BAHADUR SHAH NEW DELHI 110002

MARG Price Group 3

Wood Prsducts

Sectional

Committee,

CED 20

FOREWORD This Irdian Standard was adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards. after the draft finalized by the Wood Products Sectional Committee had been approved by the Civil Engineering Division Council. For a given board, The emission of formaldehyde from a particle board is a complex process. the test result depends upon the age, ageing conditions, moisture content, etc, at the time of testing. The perforator value as determined by the method laid down in this standard the formaldehyde content of the tested board. The
testing

is considered

to be

test result must be considered as outlined above.

in relation

to the specific board conditions

at the time of emission

There is not necessarily a correlation of the board.

between the perforator

value and the formaldehyde

The temperature of conditioning of boards has been given as 27 f 2C in 3.3 and tempera-ture required for calibrating the test apparatus has been given as 27C under 6. However, for the purpose of export of boards to European countries, values of 20 f 2C and 20C respectively may have to be adopted. In the formulation of this standard considerable assistance has been taken from EN 120 : 1984 Particle Boards. Determination of Formaldehyde Content by Extraction Method Called Perforntor European Committee for Standardization ( CEN ). Method, The composition at Annex A. of the committee responsible for the preparation of this standard is given

In reporting the results of a test or analysis made in accordance with this standard, if the final value, observed or calculated, is to be rounded off, it shall be done in accordance with IS 2 : 19608 Rules for rounding off numerical values ( revised ).

IS 13745: 1993

Indian Standard
METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF FORMALDEHYDE CONTENT IN PARTICLE BOARD BY EXTRACTION METHOD CALLED PERFORATOR METHOD
P SCOPE This standard covers method for determination of formaldehyde content of particle boards by an extraction method known as Perforator Method.
NOTE - The method given in this standard is used for the determination of formaldehyde content of particle boards of 10 mg/lOO g and above. In this value the results are the range below difficult to interpret.

Unless otherwise agreed, the boards shall be conditioned for 43 days and the test pieces for 6 days at 27 f 2C and ( 65 f 5 ) y0 relative humidity. 4 REAGENTS For the analysis, reagents of analytical quality and distilled or demineralized water shall be used. 4.1 Toluene, which is free from water and from impurities which may interfere with the test. 4.2 Iodine, standard solution with concentration ( IZ ) = 001 mol/l. Standardization of the solution shall be regularly checked. 1 ml of this solution corresponds to 03 mg formaldehyde. 4.3 Sulphuric acid solution, obtained by dilution of concentrated sulphuric acid with water at a ratio of 1:l ( volume ). 4.4 Sodium thiosulphate, standard solution with concentration ( Na&Oa ) = 001 mol/l. 4.5 Sodium hydroxide, standard solution with concentration ( PIJaOH ) = 1 mol/l. 4.6 Starch~solution
5 APPARATUS

2 PRINCIPLE The formaldehyde is extracted from test pieces by means of boiling toluene and transferred into distilled or d:mineralized water. The formaldehyde content of this aqueous solution is determined iodometrically. 3 SAMPLING PIECES
3.1 Sampling

AND PREPARATION OF TEST

3.1.1 The test pieces are to be taken evenly distributed over the width of the ( cooled ) board excluding a strip of 500 mm width at a frontside of the board. 3.1.2 Take 18 test pieces of 25 mm X 25 mm x thickness of the board for the determination of the moisture content and a sufficient number of test pieces of the same dimensions to obtain approximately 500 g of the board for the extraction by perforator. 3.2 For Production Control If-this method is used for production control, the board selected for sampling is immediately cut up. The test pieces taken from the board shall be stored in a hermetically sealed container at ambient temperature. The formaldehyde determination should be carried out not more than 24 hours after sampling. 3.3 For Other Purposes If this method is used for other purposes, for the already installed, example for boards methods chosen for sampling, preparation of test pieces, and conditioning which influence the final result shall be as agreed between the parties and laid down in the test report.
1

of 1 percent ( m/m ).

Approved labor&tory equipment, given in 5.1 to 5.9 shall be used.

like

those

5.1 Precision balance accurate to 0001 g. 5.2 Well-ventilated drying oven capable maintaining a temperature of 103 f 2C. 5.3 Extraction The apparatus Apparatus ( see Fig. 1 ) shall consist of: of

a) spiral condenser, total length approximately 400 mm; cone 45140, socket 29132 ( Part 1 ) b) ip~~~: )adaptor, socket 45140, cone 71/51 c) filter insert, porosity P 160 ( 100 to 160 p m ), bowl and filter diameter 60 mm ( Part 3 ) d) perforator attachment 1 000 ml with cock : 4pazy )bore, socket 71/51, male 29/32 ) e) conical adaptor, socket 29132, cone 45140 ( Part 5 )

rb 3,
3 EPUISPACED DOMES _fl -t HOLES $5 ON EACH r;!DE SIDE ARM

E .

CONICAL ADAPtOR

24/32

(DOUBLE) BULBED

UBE

x t:

t-

CONIC &S/40

AL to

A OAPTOR it/s1 (21 -1

320

II

II

@ 8 SIPHON TUBE \

SINTEREO GLASS FILTER. POROSITY P 160 SEALED AT POINTS MARKED T,HUS =

I
CONICAL SO ml FLASK (81

PACING

H
1

RODS 2 OFF
SE ALED fHl:yO M AT ENDS [d-j 57 ___-_ PERFORATOt? ATTACHMENT 3 EQUI I - SPACED RIBS STOPCOCK, (6) Ill

=f3
/ /
r

V 16 TUBE

CONICAL ADAPtOR 29132 TO &S/Ccl

(5)
ROUND BOTTOM FLASK 0000 ml WITH SrJCKE 7

45/&O (61
FOR DETaliS CF LOWER PART OF F~L-ER IhsERT SEE ENLARGED k2Hawl~G

FILTER

INSERT

(3)

PERFORATOR (J+)

ATTACHMENT

DETAIL

All dimensions FIG. 1

OF FILTER _k .* in millimetres.

INSERT

EXTRACTION

APPARATUS

EXTRACTION APPARATUS FOR DETERMINATION OF FORMALDEHYDECONTENT IN PARTICLE BOARDS

IS 13745 : 1993

f) d

I 000 ml round-bottomed 40/50 ( Part 6 )

flask,

socket

( Double) bulbed tube, co-e 23/32 ( length approximately 380 mm ), external diabulb 10 mm, meter approximately diameter approximately 50 mm, distance between bulb and bottom end of tube approximately 200 mm ( distance between the bulbs approximately 50 mm ) ( Part 7 ) Conical calibrated

flask is connected to the perforator. About 1 000 ml of distilled water is poured into the periorator Littachnlc:lt, leaving a space of 10 to 20 mm b?tw.en the surface oi the water and the siphon outlet. Then the condenser and the gas absorption are conrected. equipment The absorption bulb OF the pas equ;pment ( 5.3 h is filled with about 100 ml distilled water. When the apparatus is complete, heating are turned on. the cooling and

h) Absorption bulb ( for example, flask 250 ml ) (Part 8 ). 5.4 Volumetric at 27C. 5.5 Conical 5.6 Precision 5.7 Pipette 5.8 Pipette flask of 2 000 ml

Toluene must flow back regularly the whole pericd of perforation, rate of 50 to 70 drops per minute.

throughout with a refiux

flask, 250 ml. burette 50 ml calibrated at 27C. at 27C. 25 ml. TESTS at 27C.

100 ml calibrated 25 ml calibrated cylinders, OF THE

Care must be taken that no water flows back from the absorption bulb ( Part 8 ) into other parts of the equipment during the extraction process. The extraction is carried on for two hours, counting from the moment that the first bubbles pass through the filter insert. The heating must be such that the onset of bubbling occurs between 20 and 30 minutes after turning on the heating device.

5.9 Two measuring 6 EXECUTION 6.1 Number

of Deter-minatioo are to be carried out in

The determinations duplicate.

After these two hours and the gas absorption

the heating is switched bulb is removed.

off

The individual values of a duplicate determination may deviate by the maximum of 5 mg/lOO g, but by not more than 10 percent related to the greater of the two single values; otherwise a third determination is to be carried out.
NOTE - For internal r~outine control, determination may be sufficient. a single

6.2 Determination

of Moisture

Content

The moisture content is determined on a sample of 5 to 6 test pieces ( 25 mm X 25 mm ). The sample is weighed ( see 5.1 ), to an accuracy of 01 percent on a watchglass ( about 120 mm diameter ) and it is dried in a well ventilated drying oven ( 5.2 ) at a temperature of 103 f 2C to constant mass ( about 12 h ). Constant mass is regarded as having been reached when the mass of the test piece does not differ by more than 01 percent over a period of 4 hours. After the removal from the drying oven, the test pieces shall be allowed to cool in a desiccator before weighing. 6.3 Extraction in the Perforator

The water contained in the perforate; is transferred, after cooling to ambient temperature, into the volumetric flask by means of the stompcock. The perforator is rinsed twice, each time with 200 ml of distilled water-. The rinsing water is poured into the volumetric flask and the toluene discarded. The water contained in the absorption bulb of the gas absorption on equipment is poured into the flask. The volume of the water contained in the flask is then made up to 2 000 ml with distilled water. 6.4 Blank Test The test must be repeated without test pieces with new toluene from the same bottie as used for the perfo?ation. 6.5 Titratisn

The for-maldehyde is oxidized iodine in sulphuric acid solu:ion, is back titrated with thiosu!phate. 6.5.2 Procedure

by an excess of unused iodine

Before the apparatus is used the sidearm of the perforator attachment shall be provided with in order to achieve circulathermal insulation, tion of toluene. About 100 g of test pieces are weighed to an accuracy of 0.1 g and put into the round ( 4.1 ) bottom flask ( 5.3 ). 600 ml of toluene Subsequently, the round-bottom is added.

Transfer 100 ml of the formsldehydc solution ire the volumetric flask ( 5.4 ) into the conical flask ( 5.5 ). Add 511ml of iodine solution ( 4.2 ) and 20 ml of sodium hydroxide solution ( 4.5 ). Close the flask and keep it in the dark for 15 minutes. Carefully add 10 ml sulphuric acid ( 4.3 ). The liberation of excess iodine causes a brown colour to appear. Back titrate this excess iodine with the thiosulphate in the burette (5.6) in the presence of starch ( 4.6 ) as indicator.

is13745:1993
Th presence of other products capable of being oxidized by iodine ( ethyl alchol, acetone, etc ) shall be avoided. 7 RESULTS 7.1 Moisture Content information shall be given with reference present standard: to the

a) Origin of the boards, b) Place, location* and state? of the board at the time of sampling ( in particular the moisture content ), c) d) e) f) g) h) j) Type of the board, Thickness of the board ( mm ), Bulk density of the board ( kg/m3 ), Date of manufacture of the board, Date of sampling, Date ~of the titration, Moisture content ( % ), at the time of testing according to -6.2,

The moisture content of the particle board, A4 in percent is calculated by the equation : Mi---n 100
M= *n .

where MI is the mass in g of the test piece before drying, and M,, is the mass in g of the test piece after drying. 7.2 Perforator Value in mg

The formaldehyde content is expressed formaldehyde per 100 g of dry board.

This value is called the perfo:ator value and is calculated according to the fohowing equaticn: Perforator value = 3O(v,-VI)( 100 + M) -~ mg/lOO g m where V,, is the consumption in ml of 0010 mol/l thiosulphate solution for the blank test, VI is the consumption in ml of 0010 mol/l thiosulphate solution for the test, is the moisture content of the particle board in percent9 and m is the mass in g of test pieces before the extraction.
NOTE - 1 ml 0.01 mol/l thiosulphate corresponds to 0.5 ml 0.01 mol/l iodine and 0.15 mg formaldehyde. solution solution

value ( mg formaldehyde/100 g dry board ), ml Description of further details 1, and d At a conspicuous place of the test report, the following text must be included: The emission of formaldehyde from a particle board is a complex process. For a given board, the test result depends upon the age, ageing condtions, moisture content, etc, at the time of testing. The perforator value as determined by the method laid down in this standard is considered to be the formaldehyde content of the tested board. The test result obtained must be considered in relation to the specific board conditions at the time of testing as outlined above. There is not necessarily a correlation between the perforator value and the formaldehyde emission of the board.
*For example, ceiling, floor, wall, etc.

k) Perforator

R~esults shall be rounded 8 TEST REPORT In the test report the

off to the next integer.

following

minimum

yFor example, moisture content, surface coating, finishing. 1 Report of all the information about the operations which^. are not with standard ( sampl.. . . in accordance, mg or test pieces, Condltlonlng, etc ).

I$ 13745 : 1993

ANNEX A ( Foreword )
COMMITTEE Wood Products
Chairman
:DR P. M. GANAPATHY

COMPOSITION CED 20
Research and Training Institute,

Sectional Committee,
Indian Plywood Bangalore

Representing
Iudustries

SHRI B. S. ASWATHANARAYAN ( Alternate to. Dr P. M. Ganaphathy ) Forest Department, Government of Assam, Guwahati SHRI K. K. BARUAH SHRI T. K. DAS ( Alternate ) Plywood Manufacturers* Association of West Bengal, Calcutta SHRI N. M. CHACHAN SHRI B. B. ROY ( Alternate ) Directorate General of Technical Development, New Delhi SHRI A. K. CHATTERJEE SHRI 0. P. SHARMA ( Alternate ) Engineer-in-Chiefs Branch, Army Headquarters, New Delhi SHRl N. HEMBRAM SHRI K. K. MITRA ( Alternate ) Ministry of Railways ( RDSO ), Lucknow JOINT DIRECTOR STANDARDS ( CARRIAGE - 1 ) The Western India Plywood Ltd, Cannanore SHRI A. K. KADARKUTTY Ministry of Defence ( R & D) SHRI U. B. KANCHAN &RI RAVI~ER KUMAR ( Alternate ) Mational Test House, Calcutta SHRI D. K. KANUNGO DR YOGESH CHANDER NIJHAWAN ( Alternate ) National Buildings Organization, New Delhi SHRI A. K. LAL

Members

SHRI A. G. DHONGADE ( Alternate ) SHRI K. S. LAULY SHRI P. T. S. MENON ( Afternate ) DR A. N. NAYER

The Indian Plywood Manufacturing

Company

Limited,

Bombay

I PRESIDENT
EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR ( Alternate ) SHRI S. K. SANGANERIA SHRI K. SANKARAKRISHNAN SHRI S. N. SANYAL SHRI N. K. SHUKLA ( Alternate ) SHRI S. N. SANYAL SHRI K. S. SHUKLA ( Alternate ) SHRI F. C. SHARMA SHRI N. M. WALECHA ( Alternate ) DR Y. SINGH DR L. K. AGARWAL ( Alternate ) SHRI J. K.SINHA SHR~ RAMA CHANDRA ( Alternate ) SHRI M. K. KANCHAN SHRI K. D. NARULA ( Alternate ) SHRI N. K. UPADHYAY SHRI M. ZAFRULLA SHRI TRIDIB SEN ( Alternate ) .SHRIY. R. TANEJA,

In personal capacity ( C-59 Znderpuri, New Delhi ) Federation of Indian Plywood and Panel Industry, New Delhi Assam Plywood Manufacturers Association, Tinsukhia South Indian Plywood Manufacturers Association, Trivandrum Forest Research Institute, Forest Product Division, Dehra

Dun Indian Academy Directorate Central Ministry Central

of Wood Science,

Bangalore New Delhi

General

of Civil Aviation, Institute

Building Research of Defence

( CSIR ), Roorkee

( DGQA

)
New Delhi New Delhi

Public Works Department,

Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals, Sitapur PlyHrood ManufacturersLtd, Sitapur Director General, BIS ( Ex-officio Member )

Direct or (Civ Engg ) Secretary

( Contilued on page 6 )

IS 13745: 1993
( Continued fromgage Convener
DR H. N. JAGAD~ESH Indian Plywood Bangalore Central Building

5)

Wood-Based

Building Boards Subcommittee,

CED 20 : 6
Research and Training Institute,

Members
DR L.K. AGARWAL SHRI B. SINGH ( Alternate ) SEIRI A.K. CHATTERIEE SHRI 0. P. SHARMA ( Alternate ) DIRECTOR SHRI V. SIVANANDA ( Alternate ) Dy. DIRECTOR STANDARDS ( Carriage III ) ASSISTANT DIRECTOR STANDARDS ( Carriage III ) ( Alternate ) SHRI ARVIND JOLLY SHRI N. K. PADHYE ( Alternate ) SHR~ K. P. KAMALUDDIN SHRI K. R. BIRIE ( Alternate )

Iustitute

(CSIR

), Roorkee New Delhi Training Institute,

Directorate

General

of Technical

Development,

Indian Plvwood Industries Research and Bangalore Ministry of Railways ( RDSO ), Lucknow Jolly Board Ltd, Bombay The Western India Plywood Ltd, Cannanore

Llyod Insulation ( Itdia ) Pvt Ltd, New Delhi SHRI S. S. KAPUR SHRI KAUSHIK DAS ( Alternate ) SHRI M. L. LAHOTI Assam Hardboard Ltd, Calcutta SHRI L. N. BAHETI ( Alternate ) National Buildings Organization, New Delhi SHRI A. K. LAL SHRI A. G. DHONGADE (Alternate ) SHRI P. T. S. MENON The Indian Plywood Manufacturing Co Ltd, Bombay SHRI P. N. HOSAMANI( Akernate ) Novopan India Ltd, Hyderabad SHRI S. A. NAQUI SHRI A. V. V. RAGHAVACHARYA ( Alternate ) SHRI K. SANKARAKRISHNAN Kutty Flush Doors and Furniture Co ( Pvt ) Ltd, Madras SHRI M. V. D. MENON ( Alternate ) SHRI H. V. SARDA Mangalam Timber Products Ltd, Calcutta SHRI AMAR KUMAR ( Alternate ) Forest Research Institute, Forest Products Division ( CornPosits. SIIRI K. S. SHUKLA DR S. P. SINGH ( Alternate ) Wood ), Dehra Dun SHRI J. K. SINHA Ministry of Defence ( DGQA ) MAI R.N. SAIGAL ( AZternate ) DR N. SRIRAM Nuchem Limited, Faridabad SHRI D. SRIRAM ( Alternate ) SHRI P. S. SRIVASTAVA Ministry of Defence ( R & D ) SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR ( Alternate ) SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER( S & S ) CentraLPublic Works Department, New Delhi EXECUTIVEENGINEER( S & S ) ( Alternate ) SHRI JIMMY A. UNWALLA Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co Ltd, Bombay SHRI S. S. POTNIS ( AIternate ) Sitapur Plywood Manufacturers Ltd, Sitapur SHRI M. ZAFRULLA SHRI TRIDIB SEN ( Alternate )

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OF INDIAN

STANDARDS

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