Formaldehyde Adsorption-Desorption of Poplar Bark

This study investigated how the Populus x euramericana cv. Pannonia bark behaves in an environment containing formaldehyde. Prism shaped samples were formed from the bark and the prisms were kept in formaldehyde contaminated atmosphere for 1, 2, 5, 10, 18 and 36 days. After the contamination, the amount of the formaldehyde adsorbed and later the desorbed was measured. The formaldehyde content of the uncontaminated poplar bark was 0.0036 mg/g. The amount of bound formaldehyde showed a saturation curve as a function of time. The formaldehyde adsorption reached an equilibrium value of 0.9 mg HCHO/g bark. The emission of formaldehyde from contaminated bark samples showed an exponential curve as a function of time and some residual formaldehyde content was detected after the formaldehyde was released.