Global Activated Carbon Fiber Market By Type (Pitch based activated carbon fiber, Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based activated carbon fiber, and Viscose Staple based activated carbon fiber), By Application (Solvent recovery, Air purification, Water treatment, and Catalyst Carrier), By Region and Key Companies - Industry Segment Outlook, Market Assessment, Competition Scenario, Trends and Forecast 2023-2032

The Global Activated Carbon Fiber Market size is expected to be worth around USD 791 Million by 2032 from USD 409.7 Million in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period 2023 to 2032.

Market.us announces the publication of its most recently generated research report titled, “Activated Carbon Fiber Market by Type (Pitch based ACF, Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based ACF, Viscose Staple based ACF and Other Material based ACF), by Application (Solvent recovery, Air purification, Water treatment, Catalyst Carrier and Other Applications), and by Region – Global Forecast to 2028.”, Which offers a holistic view of the Global Activated Carbon Fiber Market through systematic segmentation that covers every aspect of the target market.

Market Dynamics:

Driver

There is an increasing demand for water purification and wastewater treatment

Increasing demand for activated Carbon Fiber is due to growing wastewater treatment and water purification applications. Many production facilities across the US, Europe, and Asia, and the production industries that discharge their wastewater into water sources in the US will need to comply with new water pollution control standards. These standards include wastewater treatment and hazardous water pollutants.

The water resources are being contaminated by industrial and domestic effluent. It is necessary to purify the water supply and remove any toxins from wastewater. Essential bacterial growth must also be stopped. Although water is a fundamental requirement for major manufacturing processes, it can also be contaminated by wastewater during the process. This wastewater will need to be treated before it is disposed of in a surface or sewer. Aerated bioreactors are a relatively new technology that is used to treat wastewater and effluent. ACF based on high modulus polyacrylonitrile, (PAN), was successfully used to transport industrial organic wastewater. This waste is very difficult to biodegrade. ACF is used in wastewater disposal, thereby allowing for the growth of activated carbon fiber.

Restraint

Be patient Production costs are high and raw material availability fluctuates.

Activated carbon fibers are expensive, and their manufacturing costs are increasing with rising raw material prices. Fluctuating raw materials prices and fluctuating foreign currency fluctuations have led to higher raw material costs and an increase in overall production costs.

ACF powder is the most expensive of all ACF-related products. Manufacturers are not only limited by the cost of raw materials but also have to pay higher energy taxes, which can result in lower operating costs and lower profit margins, which will limit the growth of activated carbon fiber markets.

Opportunity

Global rise in atmospheric pollution and the adoption of a policy to reduce it by the governing authorities

The greatest threat to the environment is the rising levels of pollution in the atmosphere, mainly from industrial and vehicular emissions. To address this problem, the governing authorities have developed strict policy norms that are action-based. Governing authorities around the globe have adopted BS VI vehicular norms in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The BS VI also complies directly with manufacturers to improve catalytic converter technology in cars. The Glasgow summit on climate change urged countries to reduce carbon and GHG emissions, and increase their targets for 2030. Activated carbon fiber can play an important role in these recent developments. The North American and European markets for activated carbon fiber are expected to grow rapidly.

Challenge

The requirement to produce and regenerate at a cost-effective level

ACF’s cost-effective production depends on the availability of raw materials, as well as the ability to produce at a low cost by using new technologies and processes. ACF has much room for growth in terms of cutting-edge technology that can be used to create future living spaces that will be energy-sparing, hassle-free, and of the highest standard. ACF’s biggest challenge is its cost-intensive regeneration process. The activation of carbon fiber involves two stages: chemical activation and physical activation. Chemical activation agents are more expensive.

Activated Carbon Fiber Market Scope:

Activated carbon fibers are prepared from general-purpose carbon fibers by a heat treatment in order to achieve a high level of porosity. It is used in filters, face masks, and air purification. Activated carbon is derived from charcoal. It has the name because its surface area is very large as compared to its size. A chemical reaction takes place very easily as the surface area is huge. It is of porous nature and has a high adsorption capacity. Activated carbon fiber also referred to as ACF, is a hybrid of activated carbon and carbon fiber. Raw materials for activated carbon fiber are cellulose, polyacrylonitrile, phenolic resin, pitch fibers, and others. Activated carbon fiber has speedy adsorption or desorption, good volumetric capacity, and high packing density. It is considered a great absorbent as well due to the absence of macropores and very few mesopores. The activation process increases existing pores and creates new ones as well. Its cost is somewhat high but so are its applications. It is used in electrochemical applications, medical applications, heavy metal removal, catalysis, etc.

Due to increasing cognizance amongst the general population regarding pollution and its ill effects, people are relying on air purification, treatment of wastewater, etc. for which activated carbon fibers are used. This is supposed to increase the demand for activated carbon fiber. In addition to this Industrial applications of activated carbon fiber are on the rise which is expected to boost the demand for the Activated Carbon Fiber market.

Global Activated Carbon Fiber Market Revenue (US$ Mn), 2018–2028

Furthermore, taking into account its advantages, such as high adsorption capacity, good packing density, ease of handling, etc. it is mainly used in the purification or recovery of chemicals. This is expected to fuel the market growth as the scope of these industries is very large.

However, fluctuation in the availability of raw materials required for manufacturing activated carbon fiber could hinder the market growth. The cost of processing activated carbon fiber is an important aspect as each material has different properties. Nonetheless, the vast scope for advancement in applications of activated carbon fiber is expected to drive growth during the forecasted period.

Global Activated Carbon Fiber Market is segmented based on type, end-user, and region. Based on type Pitch based ACF, Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based ACF, Viscose Staple based ACF, and Other Material based ACF. The PAN segment accounts for the majority share in the global Activated Carbon Fiber market, and also it is expected to register the highest growth rate over the forecast period. On the basis of application, the market is segmented into, Solvent recovery, Air purification, Water treatment, Catalyst Carrier, and Other Applications and the water treatment segment account for a majority share in the global activated carbon fiber market.

Global Activated Carbon Fiber Market Attractiveness Analysis by Type, 2012–2018

On the basis of region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and MEA. APAC accounts for the majority share in the Global Activated Carbon Fiber Market followed by North America owing to increasing cognizance amongst the general population regarding pollution and its ill effects in the region, with APAC registering the highest growth rate. South America and MEA are expected to register stable growth over the forecast period.

The research report on the Global Activated Carbon Fiber Market includes profiles of some of the major companies such as Toyobo Co., Ltd., Kuraray Co., Ltd., Unitika Ltd., Gun Ei Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Taiwan Carbon Technology Co., Ltd., and others.

Key Market Segments:

Type

• Pitch based activated carbon fiber
• Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based activated carbon fiber
• Viscose Staple based activated carbon fiber

Application

• Solvent recovery
• Air purification
• Water treatment
• Catalyst Carrier

Key Market Players included in the report:

• Toyobo Co.Ltd.
• Kuraray Co.Ltd.
• Unitika Ltd.
• Gun Ei Chemical Industry Co.Ltd.
• Taiwan Carbon Technology Co.Ltd

For the Activated Carbon Fiber Market research study, the following years have been considered to estimate the market size: