A catalytic spectrofluorimetric method was proposed for the determination of trace formaldehyde. It was based on the catalytic effect of formaldehyde on the oxidation of Safranine T by potassium bromate in sulphuric acid medium. The linear range of the determination was 0. 025-0.25μg/mL and the detection limit was 4.19× 10^-5μg/mL. The method is quick and simple . There was little interference with common organic substances. The method was applied to the determination of trace formaldehyde in water sample...