Formaldehyde, is a naturally occurring colourless organic compound and a highly toxic pungent, and flammable gas at room temperature.
Exposure to formaldehyde can irritate the skin, throat, lungs, and eyes.

The pure compound of formaldehyde polymerises spontaneously into paraformaldehyde and is therefore stored as formalin, an aqueous solution, normally.

Formaldehyde is used in the production of fertilizer, paper, plywood, and some resins. It is also used as a food preservative and in household products, such as antiseptics, medicines, and cosmetics. Formaldehyde is an important precursor to many other material and chemical compounds, and used in various industries, such as in the production of glues and resins, dyes, textiles, disinfectants, building materials, automobile parts, embalming, and laboratories.

The high adsorption characteristics of activated carbon thanks to its a well-developed porous structure and large surface area, is an efficient method of removing formaldehyde from gas streams.