Effect of Relative Humidity on the Penetrability and Sporicidal Activity of Formaldehyde,

Abstract

The effect of relative humidity (RH) on formaldehyde penetration through paper, glassine, and cotton was determined by the death rate of bacterial spores in glass tubes covered with these materials. The data show that paper is readily penetrated regardless of RH, but the RH greatly affects the penetration rate through glassine and cotton. The effect of RH on the penetrability of formaldehyde generated from formalin and paraformaldehyde was also compared. At low RH all three closures were penetrated more readily by formaldehyde from paraformaldehyde than from formalin, but at high RH no difference in the two was observed. The difference at low RH is probably primarily due to the condensation of the vaporized formalin. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 1970
Accession Number
AD0877678

Entities

People

  • David R. Spiner
  • Robert K. Hoffman

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Condensation
  • Formaldehyde
  • Humidity
  • Materials
  • Spores

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Electrochemical Engineering/ Fuel Cell Technologies
  • Military/Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technology