1. Performance Chemicals

• Catalyst Support: Activated carbon's porous structure and high surface area make it an excellent support for precious metal catalysts, such as platinum, in various chemical reactions.
• Enhanced Performance: The high purity and low ash content of some carbon supports reduce catalyst interference, improving reaction efficiency and enabling easier recovery of precious metals after use.

2. Polymers & Resins

• Electrical Conductivity: Carbon black is a traditional additive for imparting electrical conductivity to polymers, which are naturally insulators. When the concentration of carbon black reaches a certain point, known as the percolation threshold, the composite becomes electrically conductive. 

3. Pharmaceuticals

• Decolorization: A key use of powdered activated carbon is to remove unwanted pigments and dyes from pharmaceutical products and intermediates, improving their appearance and quality. 
• Impurity Removal: Its highly porous structure and large surface area enable it to trap and remove various impurities, including by-products and degradation products, from active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and other chemical compounds. 
• Purification of Intermediates: It is extensively used to purify pharmaceutical intermediates and raw materials, such as amino acids, mineral acids, glycerine, and biodiesel, enhancing the purity of the final product. 

4. Metal Treatment

• Reducing Agent: In the traditional blast furnace process for steelmaking, carbon, often in the form of coke or coal, is used to reduce iron ore into iron. The carbon in the mixture reacts with the oxygen in the iron ore to produce iron. 
• High Surface Area: Activated carbon's large surface area and porous structure make it an excellent support material for metal catalysts. 
• Customizable Surface Properties: The surface properties of activated carbon, such as its polarity and hydrophobicity, can be adjusted to suit specific catalytic applications. 

5. Paints, Coatings & Adhesives

• Coloration: Carbon black is a primary source for achieving rich, full-shade black colors, and it can also modify hues when used as a tinting pigment. 
• Durability & Mechanical Strength: It improves scratch resistance and impact resistance by forming a three-dimensional network within the coating, leading to better adhesion and overall durability. 
• UV Protection: Carbon black's fine particles absorb and scatter UV rays, which slows the aging process of the paint and extends its service life. 
• Weather Resistance: It provides excellent resistance to light, heat, and chemical exposure, making coatings more stable. 
• Stability: Its resistance to light and heat contributes to the overall stability of the adhesive formulation. 

6. Lubricants & Automobiles

• Purification: Powder activated carbon (PAC) is used to clean and purify lubricants by adsorbing and removing harmful contaminants. 
• Dry lubricants: Carbon in the form of graphite or carbon nanomaterials is added to lubricants or used as a dry lubricant to reduce friction and wear. 

7. Pulp & Paper Solutions

• Adsorption of Pollutants: Powdered activated carbon (PAC) has a large surface area and is an excellent adsorbent for various pollutants found in paper mill wastewater, including color-causing compounds and other refractory organic substances. 
• Improved Water Recycling: By removing pollutants, PAC helps to purify wastewater, making it suitable for reuse within the production process, which is increasingly important as paper mills adopt closed-loop water systems.