North America Activated Carbon Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Powdered, Granular), By Application (Liquid Phase, Gas Phase), By End Use (Automotive, Water Treatment), And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030

Report Overview

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.

Product Insights

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.

Application Insights

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.

End-use Insights

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.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

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

North America Activated Carbon Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

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