The application of acrolein as a biocide and herbicide is increasing rapidly in such areas as agriculture and oil field floodwaters. The use of acrolein as a hydrogen sulfide scavenger in an aqueous system is also developing. These increased applications of acrolein logically demand a study and evaluation of analytical methods for its determination under various circumstances. It is very important to know the residual level of acrolein in a system at a given time to assess the efficiency of treatment and water quality of effluents for various purposes.

Several analytical methods have been studied for suitability in laboratory and field use for determining acrolein down to parts-per-billion levels in aqueous systems. The methods studied included nuclear magnetic resonance, gas chromatography, ultraviolet, fluorescence, and visible spectrophotemetry. The results of the study show that the m-aminophenol fluorometric method is the most suitable method available for acrolein determination in aqueous systems.