Activated carbon (GAC and carbon block)

American specialty chemicals company (NYSE: CBT, HQ Boston MA; ~$4B revenue); Cabot Norit activated carbon division is world's largest producer of activated carbon/activated charcoal for gas purification, water treatment, and pharmaceutical applications. In helium PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) purification plants, Cabot Norit activated charcoal beds at cryogenic temperatures adsorb trace impurities (neon, hydrocarbons, trace organics) from raw helium streams. Cabot Norit's activated carbon is simultaneously used in: helium plant gas purification, municipal water treatment (removing chlorine, THMs, and pharmaceuticals), air purification masks (same activated charcoal in military gas masks and HVAC filters), and pharmaceutical drug purification (decolorization of pharmaceutical intermediates). The same activated charcoal that cleans hospital water systems also purifies the helium that cools MRI superconducting magnets.

Japanese chemical firm; acquired Calgon Carbon (US) in 2018 for $1.1B; 20+ facilities across USA, Europe, Asia; specialty and commodity carbons

One of the world's three largest carbon black producers; tire-grade carbon black (Specialty Fluids, Reinforcement Materials segment) accounts for ~70% of Cabot revenue; operates plants across the Americas, Europe, and Asia supplying all major tire manufacturers.

Swedish company owned by Osaka Gas Chemicals (Japan) since 2014; 20 global facilities including large coconut shell plants in India and Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka coconut shell activated carbon specialist; 56,800 MT annual capacity; 6 facilities in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia; subsidiary of Hayleys PLC

Sri Lanka's largest activated carbon producer; part of the Hayleys Group; manufactures coconut shell-based activated carbon exported globally for drinking water purification, gold recovery, and air treatment; one of the world's largest coconut shell carbon suppliers with plants in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Indonesia.

European activated carbon leader; coal and wood based; reactivation facilities in Germany and Austria; major municipal water treatment supplier

Japanese specialty chemicals; produces bead-shaped activated carbon (BAC) for high-performance water treatment; Iwaki Japan facility