Utilization of orange peel waste for activated carbon production and its application in particleboard for formaldehyde emission reduction

Activated carbon (AC) is valued for its large surface area, porosity, and chemical adsorption properties, making it suitable for a wide range of industrial applications. Its most common sources are coconut shells, wood, and coal - all of which are costly or harmful to the environment. It is thus important to finding sustainable feedstock, such as agricultural waste. Inexpensive materials like waste orange peel have been used in the production of AC. This study explores the synthesis of AC from orange peel waste through phosphoric acid (H3PO4) activation for potential applications in reducing volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde emissions in particleboard production. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to examine AC. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of AC was 497 m2g(-)(1). The addition of AC to urea-formaldehyde (UF) adhesive enhanced cross-linking and condensation reactions, improving the mechanical and physical properties of particleboards without compromising integrity. The effects of AC on formaldehyde emissions were assessed at 0 and 3 months. Compared to the control group, particleboards with AC showed a 28.98% reduction in free formaldehyde emissions at 0 months and a 45.25% reduction at 3 months. Activated carbon derived from orange peels can thus improve particleboard properties while reducing formaldehyde emissions in an environmentally sustainable way.