Granular activated carbon consists of irregularly shaped particles, depending on the screening in sizes between 0.2 and up to a few millimeters. The fine- to medium-grained granulated carbons are activated from the base material directly or after an agglomeration step. Activated carbon granules are mainly used for water treatment. A high density as well as level of activity has a positive effect on their operating or service life.

The higher the density, the longer the service life. Granulated activated carbon can be produced directly via the intermediate steps of carbonization (coking) and activation. However, it can also be produced from a pulverized raw material as a re-agglomerate. Granulated activated carbon in very small particle sizes are used especially in large-scale processes.