Buyers searching for powdered activated carbon suppliers or activated carbon suppliers in the USA mostly find two kinds of page: water-treatment carbon companies selling by the truckload, and overseas factories quoting tonne minimums with an ocean shipment in between. If you buy carbon as an ingredient or process aid — for supplement capsules, compounding, cosmetics, sugar and oil decolourising, beverage polishing or API purification — the questions are different: which grade, tested to which standard, from which US warehouse, and how fast. This guide sets out the activated carbon range Zenith Nutra Products holds in Ronkonkoma, Long Island, New York and how to choose between the grades.
In short: Zenith stocks five powdered activated carbons (coconut shell food grade, USP pharmaceutical grade, hardwood decolourising, bamboo cosmetic grade and acid-washed low-ash) and one granular grade (coconut shell GAC in 8×30, 12×40 and 20×50 mesh). Every grade has a 250 kg minimum order, ships in 20 kg or 25 kg lined bags or fibre drums, and typically dispatches within 3–7 business days from US stock, with a lot-specific Certificate of Analysis. Prices are quoted per order — request a quote with the grade, application, quantity and ship-to ZIP.
What to check when comparing activated carbon suppliers in the USA
Most supplier comparisons go wrong because buyers compare price per kg before they have confirmed that two quotes describe the same material, held in the same country, on the same paperwork. Settle these points first.
| Question for the supplier | Why it matters | What Zenith publishes |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the stock physically held? | “US supplier” can mean a sales office with material still to be imported. | Ronkonkoma, Long Island, NY; 3–7 business days from US stock |
| Powder or granular? | Powder is for batch treatment and finished products; granules are for packed columns and cartridges. | Five powdered grades and one granular grade (below) |
| Feedstock and activation | Coconut shell is microporous; hardwood is mesoporous; activation method affects what must be declared. | Stated per grade on each product page |
| Which standard is the lot tested to? | Food grade, USP monograph, cosmetic and pharmaceutical process grades are tested differently. | Grade and listings stated per product |
| Lot documents | Your QA team needs lot-level evidence, not a catalogue sheet. | Lot-specific COA, SDS, spec sheet, allergen and GMO statements |
| Minimum order and pack size | Determines whether a first production lot is practical. | 250 kg MOQ on every carbon grade |
| Samples and terms | You should be able to qualify the grade before the bulk PO. | Samples of 100 g to 1 kg at cost, credited against a first production order |
Powdered vs granular activated carbon: which form to buy
Powdered activated carbon (PAC) is used in batch treatment — stirred into a liquid, held, then filtered out — and in anything that ends up in a capsule, tablet, cosmetic or oral-care product. Fine particles give fast adsorption, but powder cannot be packed into a column: it compacts and blinds the bed.
Granular activated carbon (GAC) is for flowing systems — packed columns, filter cartridges and water or beverage treatment — where granules keep voidage and an acceptable pressure drop. Zenith’s granular activated carbon is made from the same steam-activated coconut shell as the food-grade powder; only the physical form differs. 12×40 is the most common choice for water filtration, 8×30 gives lower pressure drop at high flow, and 20×50 gives faster adsorption at higher pressure drop.
The activated carbon range in stock in Ronkonkoma, NY
Typical values from each product page. Values are typical; the Certificate of Analysis for your lot governs.
| Grade | Form / mesh | Feedstock / activation | Headline specification | Grade / listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coconut Shell Activated Carbon Powder | Powder, 200–325 mesh | Coconut shell; steam (physical) activation | Iodine ≥ 1000 mg/g; BET 950–1150 m²/g; ash ≤ 5%; moisture ≤ 10%; pH 6–10; heavy metals ≤ 10 ppm | Food grade; Kosher, Halal, Non-GMO, Vegan, REACH registered |
| USP Activated Charcoal Powder | Powder, ≥ 95% through 325 mesh | Coconut shell / wood, steam activated | Tested to the USP Activated Charcoal monograph (adsorptive power, loss on drying ≤ 15%, residue on ignition ≤ 4%, acid-soluble substances ≤ 2.5%); heavy metals ≤ 10 ppm | USP monograph compliant; cGMP; Kosher, Halal; full pharmaceutical documentation pack |
| Hardwood Activated Charcoal Powder | Powder, 200–325 mesh | Hardwood; steam / chemical activation | Molasses number ≥ 350; iodine ≥ 700 mg/g; predominantly mesoporous; ash ≤ 8%; pH 5–8; heavy metals ≤ 20 ppm | Food / technical grade; Kosher, Halal, REACH registered |
| Bamboo Activated Charcoal Powder | Ultra-fine powder, 325–800 mesh (specify on order) | Moso bamboo; steam activation | Iodine ≥ 800 mg/g; very low grit; ash ≤ 6%; pH 6–10; heavy metals ≤ 10 ppm | Cosmetic grade; Vegan, Non-GMO, Kosher, Halal |
| Acid-Washed Activated Carbon (Low Ash) | Powder 200–325 mesh, or granular | Coconut shell, acid washed | Ash ≤ 1.0%; extractable iron ≤ 50 ppm; iodine ≥ 1000 mg/g; acid-soluble matter ≤ 1%; pH 5–7; heavy metals ≤ 5 ppm | Pharmaceutical grade; cGMP; low ash certified; extractables data supplied; Kosher, Halal |
| Granular Activated Carbon (Coconut Shell) | Granules, 8×30, 12×40, 20×50 | Coconut shell; steam activation | Iodine ≥ 1000 mg/g; BET 950–1150 m²/g; hardness ≥ 95%; apparent density 0.45–0.55 g/cm³; ash ≤ 5%; moisture ≤ 5% | Food / potable water grade; potable water contact approved; Kosher, Halal, REACH registered |
MOQ, packaging and lead time by grade
| Grade | MOQ | Packaging | Lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coconut shell powder | 250 kg | 25 kg multi-wall kraft bags with PE liner; 1 kg and 5 kg sampling pouches | 3–7 business days from US stock |
| USP activated charcoal | 250 kg | 20 kg fibre drums with double PE liner; 1 kg and 5 kg pharmaceutical-grade sampling containers | 3–7 business days from US stock |
| Hardwood powder | 250 kg | 20 kg multi-wall kraft bags with PE liner | 3–7 business days from US stock |
| Bamboo powder | 250 kg | 20 kg multi-wall kraft bags with PE liner; 1 kg and 5 kg sampling pouches | 3–7 business days from US stock |
| Acid-washed low ash | 250 kg | 20 kg fibre drums with double PE liner, or 25 kg lined bags | 3–7 business days from US stock |
| Granular coconut shell | 250 kg | 25 kg multi-wall kraft bags with PE liner; bulk sacks for volume orders | 3–7 business days from US stock |
Stocked-line lead times assume inventory on hand. Country of origin is stated on each product page as China, Thailand and India, with other origins available on request — state any origin requirement on the RFQ.
Which grade for which buyer
| If you are buying for… | Start with | Deciding COA lines |
|---|---|---|
| Supplement capsules and tablets | Coconut shell powder (food grade) | Mesh, iodine number, heavy metals, lead, arsenic |
| Pharmaceutical formulation, compounding, or any spec citing USP | USP activated charcoal powder | Each USP monograph test, USP–NF edition cited |
| Sugar, syrup, glycerine, edible oil or broth decolourising | Hardwood powder | Molasses number (and method), iodine number, ash, pH |
| Face masks, cleansers, toothpaste and tooth powder | Bamboo powder (cosmetic grade) | Mesh (325–800), grit, heavy metals, lead |
| API purification, parenteral process streams, catalyst work | Acid-washed low-ash carbon | Ash, extractable iron, acid-soluble matter, extractables data |
| Water, beverage and spirit filtration columns or cartridges | Granular coconut shell GAC | Mesh size, iodine number, hardness, apparent density |
For the detail behind each choice, see the guides on iodine number, mesh and ash, USP vs food-grade activated charcoal and decolorizing activated carbon for sugar, syrup and oil.
Documents supplied with each lot
- Lot-specific Certificate of Analysis, with the lot number matching the bag or drum label
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and product specification sheet
- Allergen and GMO statements
- USP grade: full pharmaceutical documentation pack
- Acid-washed grade: extractables data
If your QA programme needs a further statement or a named third-party certification, list it on the RFQ so it can be confirmed on the quote before you commit.
Samples, shipping and trade terms
| Samples | Qualified buyers may request 100 g to 1 kg, charged at cost with freight and credited in full against a first production order. Samples generally dispatch within 48 hours of approval. Include the application and target specification so the right grade is sent. |
| Stock lead time | 3–7 business days from a cleared order for materials held in US stock |
| Carbon packaging as shipped | 20 kg or 25 kg multi-wall bags; fibre drums on the USP and acid-washed grades |
| Domestic freight | Parcel for small quantities, LTL freight for pallets |
| Trade terms | FOB, CIF and DDP quoted; international shipments by air or sea with export documentation |
| Payment | Opening orders prepaid by wire transfer or ACH; Net 30 for established accounts after a credit review |
| Quality claims | Within 30 days of delivery, with lot number, retained sample and supporting analysis |
Full details are on the shipping and terms page.
Activated carbon RFQ checklist
- Form: powder or granular, and the mesh size or particle-size limit (with method).
- Application and what the carbon must remove or achieve.
- Grade standard: food, USP (state the USP–NF edition), cosmetic or pharmaceutical process grade.
- Critical COA lines: iodine or molasses number, ash, moisture, pH, heavy metals, and any extractables limits.
- Feedstock, activation and country of origin requirements, if any.
- Listings needed: Kosher, Halal, Non-GMO, Vegan or REACH.
- Quantity: first order (from 250 kg) and expected annual volume; packaging preference.
- Ship-to ZIP, required delivery date, and preferred terms (FOB, CIF or DDP).
- Documents your QA team needs on file before approval.
Related guides
- Iodine number, mesh and ash: choosing the right activated carbon grade
- East Coast food-grade activated charcoal stock from Ronkonkoma, NY
- USP vs food-grade activated charcoal powder: bulk buyer guide
- Decolorizing activated carbon for sugar, syrup and oil
- Dietary supplement raw material supplier in New York: Long Island stock guide
- All charcoal and activated carbon grades
Request a quote
Send the grade, form and mesh, application, quantity and ship-to ZIP. Request a quote, email sales@zenithnutraproducts.com or use the contact page, Monday to Friday, 9:00am–6:00pm ET.
