Aqueous formaldehyde solutions with a low tetroxane content

The invention relates to low-tetroxane aqueous formaldehyde solutions having a pH of from 3.4 to 4.2 comprising The claimed invention relates to a process for preparing an aqueous formaldehyde solution comprising absorbing a formaldehyde-loaded gas stream, in an absorption zone, in an aqueous solution comprising from 0.000% to 0.01% by weight of a Bronsted base, based on the formaldehyde absorbed. The produced aqueous formaldehyde solution comprises: a) from 10 to 75% by weight of formaldehyde, b) from 0 to 500 ppm by weight of tetroxane, c) from 50 to 400 ppm by weight of formic acid, based on the formaldehyde absorbed, and d) from 0.2 to 5.0% by weight of methanol, based on the formaldehyde absorbed.