In　this　research,　we　utilized　potassium　hydroxide　(KOH)　to　re-activate　activated　carbon　and　subsequently　loaded　zinc　oxide　to　obtain　a　more　efficient　catalyst　for　the　decomposition　of　methyl　formate.　The　objective　of　KOH　activation　was　to　augment　the　catalytic　activity　of　the　original　ZnO/AC　catalyst.　Various　techniques　were　used　to　characterize　the　prepared　catalyst　samples,　including　BET,　FT-IR,　SEM,　XRD,　XPS,　and　CO2-TPD.　We　found　that　KOH　re-activation　of　AC　can　increase　the　carrier＇s　specific　surface　area　and　alkaline　sites,　significantly　improving　the　catalyst＇s　performance.　©　2024　Wiley-VCH　GmbH.