Top 10 Companies in the Impregnated Activated Carbon Market (2025): Market Leaders Powering Global Purification

In Business Insights
November 27, 2025


The Global Impregnated Activated Carbon Market was valued at USD 2.85 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 4.12 Billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.8% during the forecast period (2024–2030). This robust growth is fueled by escalating environmental regulations, increasing demand for air and water purification, and the critical role of impregnated activated carbon in industrial gas treatment and mercury control applications.

As industries worldwide intensify their focus on emission control and workplace safety, the spotlight falls on the specialized manufacturers developing advanced adsorption solutions. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Impregnated Activated Carbon Industry—a group of global leaders and specialized innovators driving efficiency and environmental compliance across multiple sectors.

Download FREE Sample Report: Impregnated Activated Carbon Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🔟 1. Kuraray Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Coal-based and Coconut-based Impregnated Activated Carbon

Kuraray is a leading global supplier of high-performance activated carbon, renowned for its Kuraray Coal and proprietary pelletized carbon products. The company’s impregnated carbons are engineered for specific gas phase applications, including the removal of hydrogen sulfide, mercury, and other toxic compounds from industrial off-gases.

Innovation and Application Focus:

  • Specialized formulations for mercury removal in flue gas

  • High-capacity carbons for air purification in critical environments

  • Continuous R&D in pore structure optimization for enhanced adsorption kinetics


9️⃣ 2. Cabot Norit

Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts, USA (Cabot Corporation)
Key Offering: Norit® impregnated activated carbons for air and gas purification

Cabot Norit, part of Cabot Corporation, is a powerhouse in the activated carbon market with a vast portfolio. Their impregnated products are critical for applications ranging from personal respiratory protection to large-scale industrial air treatment systems, leveraging extensive R&D and global production capabilities.

Innovation and Application Focus:

  • Norit® GCN 830 for effective chlorine and hydrogen sulfide removal

  • Military and CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) defense applications


8️⃣ 3. Jacobi Carbons

Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
Key Offering: AquaSorb® and AquaCarb® impregnated carbons for water and air treatment

Jacobi Carbons operates globally, supplying high-quality activated carbon for demanding purification tasks. Their impregnated carbons are specifically designed to target acidic gases, mercury, and other hazardous contaminants, serving the water treatment, chemical, and power generation industries.

Innovation and Application Focus:

  • Catalytically impregnated carbons for enhanced oxidation of pollutants

  • Customized solutions for specific industrial process streams

Download FREE Sample Report: Impregnated Activated Carbon Market – View in Detailed Research Report


7️⃣ 4. DESOTEC Activated Carbon

Headquarters: Roeselare, Belgium
Key Offering: Reactivation services and impregnated activated carbon filters

DESOTEC is unique in the European market with its focus on a circular economy model, offering activated carbon filtration and reactivation services. Their mobile filters, often filled with impregnated carbon, are deployed for air and gas treatment, with spent carbon being reactivated for repeated use.

Innovation and Application Focus:

  • Mobile filters for on-site treatment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

  • Sustainable reactivation service reducing waste and lifecycle costs


6️⃣ 5. Molecular Products

Headquarters: Harlow, United Kingdom
Key Offering: Specialist impregnated carbons for life safety and military applications

Molecular Products is a specialist manufacturer focused on high-performance impregnated carbons for critical applications. Their products are found in gas masks, collective protection systems, and industrial safety equipment, where reliable removal of toxic gases is paramount.

Innovation and Application Focus:

  • Advanced formulations for protection against chemical warfare agents (CWA)

  • High-activity carbons for respiratory protection in hazardous industries


5️⃣ 6. CarboTech GmbH

Headquarters: Essen, Germany
Key Offering: Customized activated carbon products for gas and air treatment

CarboTech is a German specialist known for its engineering expertise in designing activated carbon solutions for complex separation processes. The company produces a range of impregnated carbons tailored for biogas upgrading, syngas purification, and emission control.

Innovation and Application Focus:

  • Impregnated carbons for selective H2S removal from biogas

  • Solutions for the food and beverage industry for odor control


4️⃣ 7. Carbon Activated Corporation

Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, USA
Key Offering: Broad portfolio of impregnated and standard activated carbons

Carbon Activated Corporation is one of the world’s largest suppliers, offering a comprehensive range of activated carbon products from multiple production facilities. Their impregnated carbons are widely used in air and water purification systems across North America and internationally.

Innovation and Application Focus:

  • Mercury removal carbons for coal-fired power plants

  • Carbons impregnated with potassium iodide for cyanogen chloride removal


3️⃣ 8. Haycarb PLC

Headquarters: Colombo, Sri Lanka
Key Offering: Coconut shell-based impregnated activated carbon

Haycarb is a leading manufacturer of coconut shell-based activated carbon, leveraging its access to sustainable raw materials. The company’s impregnated products are valued for their high hardness, purity, and effectiveness in gold recovery and air purification applications.

Innovation and Application Focus:

  • Specialized carbons for the mining industry (Gold Recovery)

  • Development of green impregnation processes using sustainable chemicals

Download FREE Sample Report: Impregnated Activated Carbon Market – View in Detailed Research Report


2️⃣ 9. Nucon International, Inc.

Headquarters: Columbus, Ohio, USA
Key Offering: Nucon® impregnated activated carbon for air pollution control

Nucon International specializes in air pollution control systems and the activated carbon used within them. The company provides impregnated carbons designed for high-efficiency removal of a wide spectrum of acidic gases, mercury, and other toxic contaminants from industrial air streams.

Innovation and Application Focus:

  • Custom impregnation for specific waste incineration flue gases

  • Technical support and system design services alongside media supply


1️⃣ 10. Silcarbon Aktivkohle GmbH

Headquarters: Rieden, Germany
Key Offering: High-purity impregnated activated carbons for technical and pharmaceutical applications

Silcarbon Aktivkohle is a German manufacturer known for its high-quality, precisely engineered activated carbons. The company produces impregnated grades that meet the stringent requirements of the pharmaceutical industry, food and beverage sector, and sensitive chemical processes.

Innovation and Application Focus:

  • USP-NF grade carbons for pharmaceutical purification

  • Impregnated carbons for catalyst protection and process gas purification

Get Full Report Here: Impregnated Activated Carbon Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🌍 Outlook: The Future of Impregnated Activated Carbon Is Smarter and More Targeted

The impregnated activated carbon market is experiencing a significant transformation, driven by stricter environmental mandates and the need for more efficient purification technologies. While traditional acid-gas removal remains a core application, the industry is advancing towards highly specialized formulations for emerging contaminants and complex gas streams.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Increasing demand for mercury control technologies in Asia-Pacific’s growing industrial sector

  • Development of multi-functional impregnated carbons targeting a wider range of pollutants

  • Rising adoption in biogas purification as renewable energy gains traction

  • Growing emphasis on sustainable and recyclable carbon solutions to reduce environmental footprint

Get Full Report Here: Impregnated Activated Carbon Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies profiled are not just supplying a commodity—they are delivering critical environmental solutions that protect human health and enable industrial compliance in an increasingly regulated world.