Virgin carbon black is a fine carbon powder produced by the incomplete combustion of petroleum products such as oil or natural gas. It is used as a color pigment in plastics, paints, and inks, as a reinforcing filler in tires and other rubber products. Demand is increasing steadily, due to a constant increase in global consumption per capita. Its production process is highly polluting, and governmental efforts to control sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions are impeding the expansion of production capacity.