THE USES OF FORMALIN

Formalin or Formaldehyde in state of gas is an essential building block chemical in the

production of hundreds of items that improve everyday life. Aqueous solutions of

formaldehyde and its' polymers are available and play an important role in the industry.

Because of its unique properties, formaldehyde has been used in all kinds of products

such as fertilizers, carpets, plastics, clothing, glues, and plywood.

Manufacturing of Glues and Resins

Formaldehyde is widely used to manufacture building materials and household

products. When treated with phenol, urea, or melamine, formaldehyde produces,

respectively, phenol formaldehyde resin, urea formaldehyde resin, and melamine resin.

These are strong adhesives, and are used in carpentering. They are also foamed to make

insulation, or cast into moulded products.

Melamine formaldehyde resins are water-resistant and are used as paper-impregnating

resins, in laminate flooring, and in clear coats for automobiles. Phenol formaldehyde

resins are used as an adhesive in waterproof plywood. These resins are also used for

binding glass fibre insulation. The used of urea formaldehyde are as adhesives for

particleboard, fibreboard and plywood. They are also used for compression moulded

plastic parts, as wet-strength additives for paper treating.

Disinfectant and biocide

An aqueous solution of formalin can be useful as a disinfectant. Formaldehyde is a

highly effective disinfectant. It completely negates the activities and kills most of

bacteria, fungi and yeast.

The utility of formalin in medicinal products is due to its ability to modify and reduce

the toxicity of viruses, venoms, irritating pollens as well as to decrease undesirable

toxic effects in certain vitamins, antibiotics. It is also used to kill unwanted viruses and

bacteria that might contaminate the vaccine during production. Formalin are applied

topically in medicine to dry the skin, such as in the treatment of warts. Formalin also

plays an important role in the synthesis of many drugs.

Preserving Cells and Tissues

Formaldehyde solution or Formalin is used in laboratories for the preservation of

human and animal specimens. Embalming or preservation is a funeral custom of

treating human remains to delay their decomposition. The embalming fluid that is used

contains formalin. The primary purpose of formalin in the embalming fluid is for the

disinfection and preservation of the remains. This method of fixation does not preserve

nucleic acids, thus preventing. Because of the presence of formalin, it delay decay, so

its helps to study biological specimens for a longer period of time. Formalin is also used

in preserving tissue samples, so it is used in histology, which is the study of microscopic

tissues, and similar fields as well.