PRODUCTION OF ECO-FRIENDLY FIREFIGHTING FOAM FROM AGRICULTURAL WASTE: A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION APPLICATIONS

Abstract

The increasing environmental concerns associated with fluorine-based firefighting foams have accelerated the development of sustainable and biodegradable alternatives. This study investigates the production of eco-friendly firefighting foam derived from agricultural waste materials, including rice husk, wheat straw, and corn stalks. A hydrothermal-alkaline extraction method was applied to obtain natural surface-active compounds, which were further formulated into a stable foaming agent. The performance of the developed foam was evaluated in terms of foam expansion ratio, drainage time, fire extinction efficiency, and biodegradability. Experimental results demonstrate that the agricultural waste-based foam provides satisfactory performance for Class A fire suppression and moderate efficiency for Class B fires, while significantly reducing environmental toxicity compared to conventional AFFF foams. The findings confirm the potential of agricultural biomass as a sustainable raw material for next-generation firefighting foams within circular economy frameworks.