The North America activated carbon market size was valued at USD 492.9 million in 2021 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.3% from 2022 to 2030. This is attributed to its effectiveness in removing impurities owing to its high adsorbing properties. Activated carbon products are used as carriers, colorants, and catalysts in addition to impurity removal. The products can be used both for organic and inorganic particulate removal. In terms of efficiency, there is no viable alternative for activated carbon. In addition, recent technological advancements in terms of activated carbon manufacturing are expected to further fuel market growth.
Water pollution has become a crucial problem due to the prevalence of heavy metals in the recent past. In contrast, the demand for Rare Earth Elements (REEs) in modern technology in various products including hybrid car batteries, laptops, mobile phones, automotive sensors, and others is increasing over the past few years. Thus, the necessity for a stable supply of RREs has bolstered the need for recovery of these metals from the viewpoint of environmental protection and resource recovery. This is anticipated to fuel the demand for activated carbon in the REE recovery over the forecast period. Activated carbon ismainly manufactured using different raw materials including coconut shells,wood, and coal.
The physical and chemical properties vary based on the raw materials. The purity of activated carbons is largely dependent on the raw materials used. The granular activated carbon manufactured from wood contains calcium, while the ones manufactured from coal contain iron. In addition, coconut-based activated carbon contains bituminous & anthracite has 5-15%, 2-4% ash, wood has 3-6% ash, whereas lignite has 25-30% ash content.Activated carbons majorly find application in water treatment processes. This product is considered to be highly effective in the removal of chlorine and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from drinking water.
Activated carbon also removes lead, dissolved radon, and other odor-causing compounds. It is also known to have an adsorbing capacity, making it suitable for water treatment. The various factors causing water contamination include industrial wastes, leakage from ground storage tanks, and agricultural waste. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Health Advisory Level (HAL) has kept certain standards for the exposure of chemicals as their toxicity leads to adverse effects onhuman health. These include carbon tetrachloride, chlorobenzene, benzene, vinyl chloride, and some other hazardous substances.
The powdered product segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2021 and is predicted to register the second-fastest CAGR of 3.2% duringthe forecast period. This is attributed to its adsorption properties. One of the critical applications of powdered activated carbon is in water treatment operations, wherein Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) is fed into the PAC contractor, which is thereafter rapidly mixed with the water source, followed by flocculation or sedimentation process.The granular product segment accounted for a significant revenue share in 2021 and is expected to grow steadilyduring the forecast years.
This is attributed to its high internal surface area. Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) is typically used as an adsorbent and a filter medium in water treatment applications. The overall process includes placement, and selection, followed by the use of GAC in filter adsorbers. Corporations, such as Kuraray Co., Ltd., areamong the major market participants in the production of GAC.Other types of activated carbon include Extruded Activated Carbon (EAC), pelletized activated carbon, acid-washed, high-purity activated carbons, impregnated carbons, and Bead Activated Carbon (BAC). Extruded activated carbon is made by mixing charcoal with a suitable binder that is extruded at high pressure. It is mainly used in water treatment and gas-phase applications.
On the basis of applications, the overall market has been further categorized into the liquid phase and gas phase. The gas-phase was the largest application segment and accounted for a revenue share of more than 56.00% in 2021. The segment is estimated to expand further at the fastest CAGR retaining its dominant position throughout the forecast years. This is attributed to the growing usage in the automotive industry coupled with increasing acceptance across other industries, such as pharmaceutical & medical and food & beverage processing.
Within the air purification industry, the product is widely utilized in air conditioners and gas masks among others. In gas-phase application, activated carbon is also used for gas separation and solvent recovery.The liquid phase segment accounted for a significant revenue share in 2021 and is expected to grow at a considerable CAGR over the forecast years. This is attributed to regulations mandating companies to adopt environment-friendly water treatment techniques. Developed markets, such as North America, are expected to offer ample opportunities for market growth owing to the rapid industrialization and government initiatives to safeguard the environment.
The water treatment segment accounted for the largest revenue share and is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 3.4% in terms of revenue over the forecast period. This is attributed to stringent regulations, particularly in developed regions, such as North America. Regulatory standards mandating market players to utilize eco-friendly compounds and adopt efficient water disposal techniques are projected to drive market growth in the extended run.The automotive end-use segment is projected to register the fastest CAGR over the forecast years. This is attributed to the growing electric vehicles market in North America.
Activated carbon plays a crucial role in three aspects of the automotive industry including its applicability in-cabin air filters, evaporative emission control canisters, and ultra-capacitors. In the case of cabin air filters, GAC is used to remove odor and purify the air inside the passenger compartment. The product finds application in various other industries including personal care, food & beverages, and others. It is used as a texturizer, opacifier, and non-gelling thickener in creams, shampoos, eyeliners, sunscreen lotions, body powders, and foot powders in the personal care industry.
In food & beverages, the product is used as an additive owing to its anticaking, lubrication, emulsification, thickening, binding, and antifoaming properties. Other end-uses, such as metals recovery and industrial vapor processes, are expected to witness rapid growth in the near future, thereby aiding the global market. Also, precious metal recovery is another key industry that is boosting the demand for activated carbon, as they play a crucial role in the mining industry. Rapid industrialization and the growing metals industry, particularly precious metals, are projected to have a positive impact on the market over the forecast period.
Major industry participants are investing in research and development. Due to fierce industry rivalry, there has been an increased effort to achieve product differentiation. Government and companies are taking efforts to encourage the use of activated carbon among the key end-use industries. Oxbow Corp. acquired a company and entered the distribution sector of activated carbon. Prior to this acquisition, Oxbow was only a manufacturer of activated carbon. Thus, the acquisition strategy adopted by Oxbow facilitated its entry into the activated carbon distribution process. Some prominent players in North America activated carbon market include:
CarbPure Technologies
Cabot Corp.
Donau Chemie AG
Carbon Activated Corp.
Haycarb (Pvt) Ltd.
Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
Jacobi Carbons Group
Osaka Gas Chemicals Co., Ltd.
Oxbow Activated Carbon LLC
CarbUSA LLC
Calgon Carbon
Ingevity
Report Attribute |
Details |
Market size value in 2022 |
USD 579.7 million |
Revenue forecast in 2030 |
USD 662.6 million |
Growth rate |
CAGR of 3.3% from 2021 to 2030 |
Base year for estimation |
2021 |
Historical data |
2018 - 2020 |
Forecast period |
2022 - 2030 |
Quantitative units |
Volume in kilotons, revenue in USD million/billion, and CAGR from 2022 to 2030 |
Report coverage |
Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends |
Segments covered |
Product, application, end use |
Regional scope |
North America |
Country scope |
U.S.; Canada; Mexico |
Key companies profiled |
CarbPure Technologies; Cabot Corp.; Donau Chemie AG, Haycarb (Pvt) Ltd.; Jacobi Carbons Group; Osaka Gas Chemicals Co. Ltd.; Evoqua Water Technologies LLC; Oxbow Activated Carbon LLC; Carbon Activated Corp.; CarbUSA LLC; Calgon Carbon; Clarimex, S. A. de C. V.; Ingevity |
Customization scope |
Free report customization (equivalent up to 8 analysts working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope |
Pricing and purchase options |
Avail customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. Explore purchase options |
This report forecasts revenue growth at regional and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global North America activated carbon market report on the basis of product, application, and end-use:
Product Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)
Powdered
Granular
Others
Application Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)
Liquid Phase
Gas Phase
End-use Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)
Water Treatment
Food & Beverage Processing
Pharmaceuticals & Medical
Automotive
Air Purification
Others
Regional Outlook (Volume, Kilotons; Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)
North America
U.S.
Canada
Mexico
b. The North America Activated Carbon market size was estimated at USD 492.9 million in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 579.7 million in 2022.
b. The North America Activated Carbon market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.3% from 2022 to 2030 to reach USD 662.6 million by 2030.
b. The U.S. dominated the North America Activated Carbon market with a share of 77.81% in 2021. This is attributable to strong presence of product manufacturers along with regulatory mandates which are likely to push companies toward efficient methods of water treatment.
b. Some key players operating in the North America Activated Carbon Market include CarbPure Technologies, Cabot Corporation, Donau Chemie AG, Carbon Activated Corporation, Haycarb (Pvt) Ltd., Evoqua Water Technologies LLC, Jacobi Carbons Group, Osaka Gas Chemicals Co., Ltd., Oxbow Activated Carbon LLC, CarbUSA LLC, Calgon Carbon, and Ingevity among others
b. Key factors that are driving the North America Activated Carbon market growth include growing demand for water treatment processes, sewage water treatment and air purification.
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