The Columbus plant is one of Calgon Carbon's six reactivation facilities in the United States and holds NSF/ANSI Standard 61 certification for drinking water reactivation. This expansion will add two drinking water kilns and related infrastructure, enhancing its ability to serve municipal customers in the Midwestern and Eastern United States. The plant expansion aims to address the stringent standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) such as PFOA and PFOS. These standards require utilities to comply by 2031, driving growth in the demand for drinking water carbon reactivation.
Steve Schott, President and CEO of Calgon Carbon, stated: "Calgon Carbon has spent over 80 years building the technology, infrastructure, and expertise to make an investment like this possible. Kuraray's investment in our growth reflects their commitment to improving our living environment—including pure water and clean air—and the critical role activated carbon plays in treating drinking water. Our customers and communities rely on us, and we are delivering on that commitment."
The company's proprietary thermal reactivation process restores spent granular activated carbon for reuse while destroying contaminants. Recent research published in the journal Remediation shows that this process can remove PFAS from spent carbon to below detectable levels, achieving a destruction and removal efficiency exceeding 99.9%, with no regenerated PFAS detected in stack emissions. Compared to producing new activated carbon, the reactivation process can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% and provides a sustainable PFAS management solution.
The Columbus plant expansion is part of Calgon Carbon and Kuraray's plan to expand domestic activated carbon production capacity. The company also plans to develop a new Tygart River plant in Moore, South Carolina, to enhance its ability to serve U.S. utility companies in achieving PFAS compliance. Jenelle Brewer, Senior Vice President of Drinking Water Solutions and Global Business Development, said: "We have the world's largest reactivation network, the only peer-reviewed evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of our proprietary reactivation process, and an unparalleled domestic manufacturing base. Our customers are preparing for the largest regulatory shift in drinking water treatment in a generation. With the Columbus expansion and Tygart River development, we ensure they have a partner with the capacity, technology, and proven track record to execute on time and without compromise."
These investments build upon Calgon Carbon's "Cornerstone Action" plan, which began in 2025, aimed at providing domestic activated carbon supply. By securing reactivation capacity, the company supports long-term customer needs and PFAS compliance timelines, strengthening its position in the U.S. drinking water carbon reactivation market.
