Activated Carbon Market by Type (Granular Activated Carbon, Pellets Activated Carbon, Powdered Activated Carbon), Raw Material (Bamboo, Coal, Coconut Shell), Application, End User - Global Forecast 2024-2030

[193 Pages Report] The Activated Carbon Market size was estimated at USD 5.13 billion in 2023 and expected to reach USD 5.61 billion in 2024, at a CAGR 9.53% to reach USD 9.71 billion by 2030.

Activated carbon is a form of carbon processed to get small, low-volume pores that expand the surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions. These pores help activated carbon to trap certain chemicals, effectively removing them from air or liquids. The activation process typically involves treating carbonaceous materials, such as wood, coconut shells, coal, or peat, with high temperatures and sometimes additional chemicals. This process removes previously absorbed molecules and rearranges the carbon atoms to create a highly porous structure. Public awareness regarding health and environmental safety has risen significantly, which drives demand for water and air purification systems, where activated carbon is critical due to its ability to remove contaminants effectively. The elevating demand for clean drinking water and the scarcity of water resources in many parts of the world makes the treatment and reuse of water essential, thereby propelling the market demand for activated carbon. However, the fluctuations in the availability and price of raw materials hinder their adoption. Investment in R&D to enhance the efficiency and application range of activated carbon and the ongoing advancements and innovations in production techniques offer significant growth opportunities for the activated carbon market.

In the Americas, the market for activated carbon is experiencing robust growth, primarily driven by strict environmental regulations, particularly in the United States and Canada. The increasing need for water purification systems and air pollution control mechanisms, fueled by an enhanced awareness surrounding environmental concerns, has catapulted the demand for activated carbon. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations, aimed at controlling mercury emissions from industrial units, have particularly underscored the importance of activated carbon in achieving compliance. The region's burgeoning pharmaceutical and food & beverage industries contribute to the increased demand, utilizing activated carbon for decolorization, deodorization, and purification processes. The market for activated carbons proliferates in the APAC region, propelled by expanding industrialization, urbanization, and escalating environmental awareness in countries such as China, India, and Japan. The region's large population and resultant water and air purification needs substantially drive the demand for activated carbon. Government initiatives to improve industrial emissions standards and investment in wastewater treatment infrastructure are significant catalysts propelling market expansion. In Europe, the strict environmental mandates to enhance air and water quality have created a stable demand for activated carbon, further driven by the shift toward renewable energy sources, necessitating advanced gas purification technologies. The rising concerns of water scarcity and industrial expansion fuel the activated carbon market growth in the Middle East and Africa. The Middle East and African regions' commitment to environmental sustainability and industrial development presents a dynamic landscape for the activated carbon market.

The market dynamics represent an ever-changing landscape of the Activated Carbon Market by providing actionable insights into factors, including supply and demand levels. Accounting for these factors helps design strategies, make investments, and formulate developments to capitalize on future opportunities. In addition, these factors assist in avoiding potential pitfalls related to political, geographical, technical, social, and economic conditions, highlighting consumer behaviors and influencing manufacturing costs and purchasing decisions.

• Market Drivers
  • Stringent government standards and regulations concerning emissions and water pollution
  • Rising demand for mercury control technology for industrial air purification
• Market Restraints
  • Fluctuations in the availability and price of raw materials
• Market Opportunities
  • Investment in R&D for enhancing the efficiency and application range of activated carbon
  • Innovations for enhancing the recyclability and reusability of activated carbon products
• Market Challenges
  • Disposal and regeneration issues associated with the use of activated carbon

• Type: Widening use of granular activated carbon owing to its versatility and efficiency

  Granular activated carbon (GAC) consists of irregularly shaped particles between 0.2mm to 5 mm. GAC is known for its versatility in water treatment applications, effectively removing tastes, odors, chlorine, and other chemicals from drinking water and wastewater. Its relatively large particle size promotes a lower pressure drop, making it suitable for adsorption processes where the flow rate is critical. GAC's granular form allows for either thermally or chemically easy regeneration, prolonging its service life. Pelletized activated carbon is characterized by its uniform shape and size, typically cylinders. This type of activated carbon is produced by extruding a mixture of activated carbon powder and a binding agent, resulting in a dense product with low dust content and high mechanical strength. Pelletized carbon is particularly effective in gas phase applications, such as vapor recovery, air purification, and solvent recovery, owing to its low-pressure drop, high mechanical strength, and predictable flow properties. Powdered activated carbon (PAC) comprises finely ground particles. PAC is distinguished by its high surface area-to-volume ratio, which provides rapid adsorption kinetics, making it especially suitable for applications requiring immediate results, such as removing contaminants in water treatment processes. PAC is generally used in batch processes or applications where it can be mixed with liquids to form a slurry owing to its fine particle size.

• End User: Rising adoption of activated carbon in gas & air purification

  In the automotive sector, activated carbon is predominantly used in canister systems to adsorb and reduce the emissions of volatile organic compounds from fuel. The carbon is used in the vapor recovery systems of vehicles, where it captures fuel vapor from the fuel tank and carburetor, which is then desorbed when the vehicle is started and burnt as part of the fuel mixture. Activated carbon finds a significant application in the cosmetic industry owing to its adsorption characteristics, which help remove impurities and contaminants from the skin and hair. It is widely used in products such as facial cleansers, masks, and scrubs, where it helps draw out pollutants, minimize pores, and remove excess oil, thereby contributing to cleaner and clearer skin. In the food & beverage industry, activated carbon is used for purification and decolorization. It is instrumental in purifying water and removing impurities and contaminants affecting taste, odor, and safety. Activated carbon is crucial in gas and air purification applications owing to its ability to adsorb various pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds, sulfur compounds, and nitrogen oxides, from industrial emissions, thereby contributing to environmental conservation efforts. It is also used in residential, commercial, and industrial air filtration systems to remove pollutants and allergens from the air, providing cleaner and healthier indoor air quality. In the mining industry, activated carbon is prominently used to recover gold through a process known as carbon-in-pulp (CIP) or carbon-in-leach (CIL). In these processes, activated carbon adsorbs the gold from ore slurry, which is later desorbed from the carbon for further processing. The pharmaceutical industry utilizes activated carbon for various purposes, including the purification of raw materials, removal of color and impurities from intermediates and final products, and detoxification in manufacturing pharmaceuticals. Its ability to adsorb contaminants helps ensure pharmaceutical products' purity and efficacy. Activated carbon plays an essential role in both water and wastewater treatment. In potable water treatment, activated carbon removes organic compounds, chlorinated byproducts, pesticides, and heavy metals, improving taste, odor, and safety. It adsorbs various organic and inorganic pollutants in wastewater treatment, ensuring the treated water meets the required discharge standards or can be safely reused.

The porter's five forces analysis offers a simple and powerful tool for understanding, identifying, and analyzing the position, situation, and power of the businesses in the Activated Carbon Market. This model is helpful for companies to understand the strength of their current competitive position and the position they are considering repositioning into. With a clear understanding of where power lies, businesses can take advantage of a situation of strength, improve weaknesses, and avoid taking wrong steps. The tool identifies whether new products, services, or companies have the potential to be profitable. In addition, it can be very informative when used to understand the balance of power in exceptional use cases.

The market share analysis is a comprehensive tool that provides an insightful and in-depth assessment of the current state of vendors in the Activated Carbon Market. By meticulously comparing and analyzing vendor contributions, companies are offered a greater understanding of their performance and the challenges they face when competing for market share. These contributions include overall revenue, customer base, and other vital metrics. Additionally, this analysis provides valuable insights into the competitive nature of the sector, including factors such as accumulation, fragmentation dominance, and amalgamation traits observed over the base year period studied. With these illustrative details, vendors can make more informed decisions and devise effective strategies to gain a competitive edge in the market.

The FPNV positioning matrix is essential in evaluating the market positioning of the vendors in the Activated Carbon Market. This matrix offers a comprehensive assessment of vendors, examining critical metrics related to business strategy and product satisfaction. This in-depth assessment empowers users to make well-informed decisions aligned with their requirements. Based on the evaluation, the vendors are then categorized into four distinct quadrants representing varying levels of success, namely Forefront (F), Pathfinder (P), Niche (N), or Vital (V).

• PEER Next Launched Innovative Activated Carbon Technology Accessories in India

  PEER Next launched a new line of activated carbon technology accessories in India, marking a significant step forward in the country's environmental and technological industry. These innovative products, designed to leverage activated carbon's purification and filtration capabilities, promise to offer advanced solutions for reducing pollutants and enhancing air and water quality. [Published On: February 08, 2024]

• IndCarb's Announced Strategic Expansion to Meet Rising Activated Carbon Demand

  IndCarb announced a plan to enhance its production capacity significantly to meet the burgeoning demand for value-added activated carbon products, which are increasingly sought after in various industries for their pollutant removal efficiencies. IndCarb is set to redefine industry standards, ensuring sustainable growth by leveraging advanced technologies and investing in new production facilities. [Published On: July 18, 2023]

• Evoqua Broadens Texas Operational Footprint with the Acquisition of Industrial Water Treatment Service

  Evoqua Water Technologies expanded its operational domain by acquiring the Texas-based industrial water treatment service, previously owned by Bob Johnson & Associates, from Kemco Systems. The acquisition notably enhances Evoqua's service offerings in the Texas region, encompassing both the Houston and Waxahachie areas. The purchase includes the service business accounts, deionization (DI), and carbon tank assets, which are integral for water treatment processes. [Published On: February 03, 2023]

The strategic analysis is essential for organizations seeking a solid foothold in the global marketplace. Companies are better positioned to make informed decisions that align with their long-term aspirations by thoroughly evaluating their current standing in the Activated Carbon Market. This critical assessment involves a thorough analysis of the organization’s resources, capabilities, and overall performance to identify its core strengths and areas for improvement.

The report delves into recent significant developments in the Activated Carbon Market, highlighting leading vendors and their innovative profiles. These include Albemarle Corporation, ARQ, Inc., Boyce Carbon, Cabot Corporation, Carbon Activated Corporation, Carbotech Ac GmbH, CPL Activated Carbons, Desotec Group, Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, Fujian Xinsen Carbon Industry Co., Ltd., Futamura Chemical Co., Ltd., General Carbon Corporation, Haycarb PLC, Ingevity Corporation, Karbonous, Inc., Kuraray Co., Ltd., Kureha GmbH, Osaka Gas Co., LTD., Puragen Activated Carbons, Silcarbon Aktivkohle GmBH, and Veolia Environnement S.A..

This research report categorizes the Activated Carbon Market to forecast the revenues and analyze trends in each of the following sub-markets:

• Type
  • Granular Activated Carbon
  • Pellets Activated Carbon
  • Powdered Activated Carbon
• Raw Material
  • Bamboo
  • Coal
  • Coconut Shell
  • Peat
  • Wood
• Application
  • Gaseous Phase
  • Liquid Phase
• End User
  • Automotive
  • Cosmetic Industry
  • Food & Beverages
  • Gas & Air Purification
  • Mining
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Water & Wastewater Treatment

• Region
  • Americas
    • Argentina
    • Brazil
    • Canada
    • Mexico
    • United States
      • California
      • Florida
      • Illinois
      • New York
      • Ohio
      • Pennsylvania
      • Texas
  • Asia-Pacific
    • Australia
    • China
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Japan
    • Malaysia
    • Philippines
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Taiwan
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam
  • Europe, Middle East & Africa
    • Denmark
    • Egypt
    • Finland
    • France
    • Germany
    • Israel
    • Italy
    • Netherlands
    • Nigeria
    • Norway
    • Poland
    • Qatar
    • Russia
    • Saudi Arabia
    • South Africa
    • Spain
    • Sweden
    • Switzerland
    • Turkey
    • United Arab Emirates
    • United Kingdom

1. Market Penetration: This section thoroughly overviews the current market landscape, incorporating detailed data from key industry players.
2. Market Development: The report examines potential growth prospects in emerging markets and assesses expansion opportunities in mature segments.
3. Market Diversification: This includes detailed information on recent product launches, untapped geographic regions, recent industry developments, and strategic investments.
4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: An in-depth analysis of the competitive landscape is conducted, covering market share, strategic approaches, product range, certifications, regulatory approvals, patent analysis, technology developments, and advancements in the manufacturing capabilities of leading market players.
5. Product Development & Innovation: This section offers insights into upcoming technologies, research and development efforts, and notable advancements in product innovation.

1. What is the current market size and projected growth?
2. Which products, segments, applications, and regions offer promising investment opportunities?
3. What are the prevailing technology trends and regulatory frameworks?
4. What is the market share and positioning of the leading vendors?
5. What revenue sources and strategic opportunities do vendors in the market consider when deciding to enter or exit?