Our History at a Glance
For more than a century, Donau Carbon has been shaping the world of activated carbon. Our roots go back to 1915, when Metallgesellschaft AG built Europe’s first activated carbon production plant. Together with its engineering subsidiary Lurgi, the foundation was laid for a unique combination of production expertise, process engineering and application know‑how.
Early Innovations (1915–1945)
1915: Metallgesellschaft AG establishes Europe’s first activated carbon plant.
1922: Formation of Lurgi-Gesellschaft für Wärmetechnik, including an activated carbon department – the direct precursor of today’s Donau Carbon.
1920s: Construction of the first solvent recovery plant using activated carbon.
Activated carbon rapidly gains importance in gasoline recovery from natural gas, synthesis gas purification and solvent recovery in coal-to-liquid processes.
Activities in drinking water purification and wastewater treatment also begin in this decade.
1928–1945: Metallgesellschaft AG joins the Carbon-Norit-Union, a cooperation with leading producers such as Bayer, Degussa, Norit, Ceca and Aussiger Verein.
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Post-War Expansion and Joint Ventures (1948–1990)
From 1948 onward, Lurgi markets activated carbon for Bayer and Degussa, evolving into the “Triple Joint Venture Partnership,” which remains in place until 1990. During this period, Lurgi advances applications in gas purification, desulphurization and solvent recovery.
Formation of Lurgi Aktivkohle GmbH (1992)
Lurgi Aktivkohle GmbH is established as a subsidiary of Lurgi, combining engineering expertise with an application-focused sales business, an in-house reactivation plant and a dedicated R&D laboratory.
Integration into Donau Chemie AG (1999–2000)
During Lurgi’s restructuring in the late 1990s, all activated carbon activities are consolidated in Lurgi Aktivkohle GmbH, which is acquired in 1999 by Donau Chemie AG, Vienna.
In 2000, the company is renamed Donau Carbon GmbH & Co. KG. The first US subsidiary, Donau Carbon Corp., is founded in Springfield, New Jersey.
Growth and Global Expansion (2002–Today)
2002: Start of operations at our second reactivation facility in Pischelsdorf (Austria) and commissioning of our own plant for impregnated activated carbons.
2011: Opening of our first non-European production facility in the Philippines, today expanded to a capacity of 19,000 MT/year (2025).
2015: Company renamed Donau Carbon GmbH after internal restructuring.
2016: Merger of Donau Carbon Corporation with Standard Purification; the combined entity operates as Donau Carbon US LLC in Dunnellon, Florida.
2020: Opening of Donau Carbon France SARL.
2025: Acquisition of our new production site in India, expanding our global manufacturing footprint.
Donau Carbon Germany (Office)
+49-69-4011-650