Formaldehyde
A simple, reactive methanol derivative whose resins glue most of the world's particleboard, MDF and plywood; also a known human carcinogen.
Commodity chemicals · Methanol & oxygenates · No. 32
- Single chemical
- Feedstock: Oil, gas or coal
- about 23 Mt (2022)
- 3.1 t CO₂e per t
- HS 291211
The glue holding your flat-pack wardrobe together is mostly formaldehyde, a chemical classed as a known human carcinogen.
Chart: Illustration: Formaldehyde
Where it comes from
Chart: Map of where it comes from
Methanol vapour and air pass over a silver catalyst at 600-720 C or a metal oxide at 250-400 C. The gas is soaked up in water to make formalin.
Three things to know
- About 38% of the world's 23 Mt of formaldehyde became urea-formaldehyde resin for wood panels in 2022.
- Formalin is mostly water and degrades in storage, so plants are built beside the resin makers and very little crosses borders.
- From August 2026 the EU caps emissions from furniture and wood products at 0.062 mg per cubic metre of air.
The journey
- 1 MethanolAbout 1.13-1.2 t per tonne
- 2 OxidationSilver or metal oxide catalyst, hot air
- 3 FormalinAbsorbed in water to 37-55% solution
- 4 ResinMixed with urea, phenol or melamine
- 5 PanelsHot-pressed into particleboard, MDF, plywood