Formaldehyde Resin as a Solid Fuel and Activated Carbon

Abstract

This work was aimed to assess the potential of formaldehyde resin residue as a solid fuel and activated carbon. The resin materials were characterized in terms of calorific value, elemental composition, thermal stability, specific surface area, surface side groups, flame retardancy, flue gas and the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP). Meanwhile, the hardened resin was chemically activated using potassium hydroxide and phosphoric acid to remove methylene blue. The TCLP shows that resins are stable with minimal leaching of minerals. The resins are composed primarily of carbon with 3.1 % ash content with the high calorific values. The KOH-activated carbon exhibits a maximum dye adsorption capacity of 388 mg/g, surpassing that of H₃PO₄-activated carbon by only
21.2 mg/g. The analysis of hardened resins has revealed its versatility as a solid fuel and activated carbon, thereby supporting sustainability efforts.