1. business and industrial
2. chemicals industry
3. plastics and polymers

CATALYSTS
cabotcorp.com
NORTH AMERICA
EMEA
ASIA PACIFIC
SOUTH AMERICA
Cabot Corporation Headquarters
Two Seaport Lane
Suite 1300
Boston, MA 02210
USA
TEL
+617 345 0100
FAX
+617 342 6103
Cabot Norit Nederland B.V.
Astronaut 34
3824 MJ Amersfoort
THE NETHERLANDS
TEL +31 33 4648911
FAX +31 33 4617429
Cabot China Ltd.
558 Shuangbai Road
Shanghai 201108
CHINA
TEL +86 21 5175 8800
FAX +86 21 6434 5532
Cabot Brasil Industria e Comericio Ltda.
Rua do Paraiso 148 – 5 andar
Sao Paulo 04103-000
BRAZIL
TEL +55 11 2144 6400
FAX +55 11 3253 0051
This information is provided for informational purposes only. No guarantee or warranty as to this information, or any product to which it relates, is given or implied. Cabot disclaims all warranties
express or implied, including merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose as to (i) such information, (ii) any product or (iii) intellectual property infringement. In no event is Cabot responsible
for, and Cabot does not accept and hereby disclaims liability for, any damages whatsoever in connection with the use of or reliance on this information or any product to which it relates.
©2014 Cabot Corporation. All rights reserved worldwide.
cabotcorp.com
CATALYSTS
Cabot Norit Activated Carbon is the world’s leading
producer of activated carbon for catalysts and catalyst
supports, with products tailored for high performance
in a variety of applications. Since we began producing
activated carbon almost 100 years ago, we have expanded
our product range to keep up with ever-changing demands.
Offering the broadest product portfolio in the industry, we
have the capability to produce activated carbon from a
variety of raw materials in ISO 9001-certified plants across
the globe.
cabotcorp.com
In addition to offering high quality activated carbon
products, Cabot also provides a comprehensive service
offering for the industry, including:
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Analysis of your activated carbon needs
On-site carbon applications training
Basic design calculations
Technical service and support
Tightening regulations and environmental legislation
surrounding fuel and emissions, as well as the use of new and
alternative raw materials in chemical processing, have led to
an increased need for new and high performance catalysts.
By leveraging our deep technical knowledge in the production
and development of activated carbon, we’ve developed a
range of high quality products for these applications.
Choosing the right activated carbon
Particle size control
Due to high performance requirements in complex technical
processes, only the highest quality activated carbons are
selected for catalyst applications. Cabot’s activated carbon
products offer optimal purity, pore volume, form, hardness
and surface functionality, making them the ideal choice for
catalyst applications.
Particle size and form influence reaction kinetics: the smaller
the particles, the better the kinetics. We offer customized
sizes of activated carbon to meet application requirements
in liquid and gas phase reactions.
Excellent purity
Hardness, demonstrated by abrasion resistance and
crushing strength, is of significant importance in fixedbed reactors for chemical reactions, since breakdown of
carbon particles can result in a loss of valuable catalyst
and precious metal compounds. Cabot’s unique extrusion
process results in activated carbon products with extremely
high hardness and minimizes the formation of fines in
processing. Minimal fines means reduced catalyst loss and
better pressure drop across the carbon bed, resulting in
longer catalyst life and shorter process time.
Product consistency and purity helps to prevent side
reactions and leaching from the reactant, making these
qualities of extreme importance in the processing of
high value precious metals. Our dedication to quality and
adherence to stringent specifications, results in consistent,
high purity activated carbon.
High pore volume
The high macroporosity in Cabot’s activated carbon
products increases the speed of transport of reactants to
and from the catalytic surface, and enables adsorption of
unwanted byproducts. In addition, we produce carbons with
surface areas of up to 2500m2/g, making them ideal for
finely distributed catalyst compounds or metals.
High hardness and crushing strength
Functional surface groups
When it comes to functional surface groups, Cabot offers
the widest product range in the activated carbon catalyst
industry. Activated carbons feature hydrophilic and/or
hydrophobic groups on the surface that play an important
role in catalytic chemistry, influencing the transport of the
compounds to the internal pores as well as the interaction
with the catalytic compounds.
cabotcorp.com
ACTIVATED CARBON
AS CATALYST
The unique pore structure, high internal surface area, purity and chemical characteristics that result in catalytic properties make
Cabot’s activated carbon products extremely efficient catalysts in many chemical processes.
Activated carbon is the preferred catalyst in many chemicals, including:
Glyphosate
Cyanuric chloride
Phosgene
Cabot’s activated carbons are
used as oxidation catalysts in
the production of glyphosate, a
herbicide used to control weeds and
improve crop yields. Our products
combine excellent catalytic activity
and selectivity with superior
sedimentation and filtration
characteristics, which result in
shortened process time and higher
production output.
Cyanuric chloride is an indispensable
intermediate used in the manufacturing
of various agrochemicals, optical
brighteners and tanning agents. In
addition to high purity, Cabot’s activated
carbon catalysts provide high pore
volume, superior abrasion resistance
and low pressure drop for the
trimerization of cyanogen chloride into
cyanuric chloride.
Polyurethane (PU) is used in a
wide range of products ranging
from construction materials to
furniture and cars. Phosgene is a
key intermediate raw material for
PU production, created by passing
purified carbon monoxide and
chlorine gas over an activated carbon
catalyst. Cabot’s extruded catalysts
with high hardness, low pressure
drop and high catalytic activity can
result in an extended service life and
lower PU production costs.
cabotcorp.com
ACTIVATED CARBON
AS CATALYST SUPPORT
Many of today’s chemical processes require the use of a catalyst supported on a carrier. The greater internal surface area, high
inertness and versatility of product form make Cabot’s activated carbons an ideal choice for precious metal carriers for catalyst
applications.
Activated carbon is the ideal support in many applications, including:
Hydrocarbon sweetening
The hydrocarbon sweetening process
involves the catalytic extraction of
mercaptans from refinery products.
Cabot has specially developed
GAC grades as catalyst carriers for
hydrocarbon sweetening. Due to its
large internal surface area, these
products have proven to be excellent
carriers for the catalyst, enabling
conversion of the mercaptans to
disulfides.
Purified terepthalic acid
(PTA)
Pharmaceutical and fine
chemicals
PTA is an essential intermediate
for the production of plastics like
PET beverage bottles. During the
production of PTA, our GAC products
carry the precious metal catalyst.
The high purity of these products
prevents catalyst poisoning, while
high hardness helps to minimize
loss of the precious metal catalyst,
resulting in significant benefits in
process reliability.
Most pharmaceutical companies
require catalysts for chemical
synthesis in drug production. Cabot’s
activated carbon products play a key
role as carriers for precious metals
in this application, offering strict
product specifications, increasing
the efficiency of the catalyst
impregnation process and reducing
valuable testing and process time.
cabotcorp.com
CATALYST
PROTECTION
In addition to catalyst and catalyst support applications,
Cabot manufactures activated carbons for use as a guard
bed for catalysts. Activated carbon adsorbs impurities
that can be present in the process streams, protecting the
valuable catalyst from contamination.
Activated carbon provides highly effective
catalyst protection in applications including:
Heavy polynucleic aromatics (HPNA) removal
A hydrocracking unit, or hydrocracker, is an essential part of
a petrochemical unit. It takes gas oil (heavy hydrocarbons),
and cracks the large molecules into distillate and gasoline
(such as kerosene, jet fuel) in the presence of hydrogen and
a catalyst. HPNAs are high molecular weight condensed
aromatic molecules formed by undesired reactions in a
hydrocracker. If not physically removed from the system,
they will continue to build up in the recycle oil stream and
cause rapid deactivation of the catalyst as well as create
the potential for severe fouling in heat exchangers and
air coolers. Our highly mesoporous activated carbon can
remove these micro-pollutants, increasing the lifespan of
valuable hydrocracker catalysts.
Desulfurization to protect precious metal
catalysts
Precious metal catalysts are highly susceptible to sulfur
poisoning, resulting in loss of production and shortened life.
Natural gas feedstock is used for the production of many
chemicals including ammonia, methanol and hydrogen,
which can contain these harmful sulphur compounds. Our
GAC products can remove low concentrations of H2S or
other low molecular weight sulfur compounds, protecting
the catalyst from deactivation and shortened life.
cabotcorp.com
CABOT
PURIFICATION FOR LIVING
Founded in 1918, Cabot Norit Activated
Carbon is the world’s largest and
most experienced producer of
activated carbon, used to remove
pollutants, contaminants and other
impurities from water, air, food and
beverages, pharmaceutical products
and other liquids and gases in an
efficient and cost-effective manner.
In addition to our unparalleled product
portfolio, Cabot offers a full range of
activated carbon services including
rental systems, carbon reactivation,
bulk delivery and change-out, carbon
evaluation, as well as technical
service and support to help our
customers meet their specific
purification needs.
Cabot provides its customers
with a worldwide network of sales
and service support. In fact, we
manufacture activated carbon in five
plants and reactivate carbon in four
plants around the world. So whether
you have one operation or many
facilities around the globe, we’ve got
you covered.
cabotcorp.com
cabotcorp.com
CATALYSTS
cabotcorp.com
NORTH AMERICA
EMEA
ASIA PACIFIC
SOUTH AMERICA
Cabot Corporation Headquarters
Two Seaport Lane
Suite 1300
Boston, MA 02210
USA
TEL
+617 345 0100
FAX
+617 342 6103
Cabot Norit Nederland B.V.
Astronaut 34
3824 MJ Amersfoort
THE NETHERLANDS
TEL +31 33 4648911
FAX +31 33 4617429
Cabot China Ltd.
558 Shuangbai Road
Shanghai 201108
CHINA
TEL +86 21 5175 8800
FAX +86 21 6434 5532
Cabot Brasil Industria e Comericio Ltda.
Rua do Paraiso 148 – 5 andar
Sao Paulo 04103-000
BRAZIL
TEL +55 11 2144 6400
FAX +55 11 3253 0051
This information is provided for informational purposes only. No guarantee or warranty as to this information, or any product to which it relates, is given or implied. Cabot disclaims all warranties
express or implied, including merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose as to (i) such information, (ii) any product or (iii) intellectual property infringement. In no event is Cabot responsible
for, and Cabot does not accept and hereby disclaims liability for, any damages whatsoever in connection with the use of or reliance on this information or any product to which it relates.
©2014 Cabot Corporation. All rights reserved worldwide.