The present invention relates to a furnace black having a STSA surface area of at 130 m2/g to 350 m2/g wherein the ratio of BET surface area to STSA surface area is less than 1.1 if the STSA surface area is in the range of 130 m2/g to 150 m2/g, the ratio of BET surface area to STSA surface area is less than 1.2 if the STSA surface area is greater than 150 m2/g to 180 m2/g, the ratio of BET surface area to STSA surface area is less than 1.3 if the STSA surface area is greater than 180 m2/g, and the STSA surface area and the BET surface area are measured according to ASTM D 6556 and to a furnace process wherein the stoichiometric ratio of combustible material to O2 when forming a combustion gas stream is adjusted to obtain a k factor of less than 1.2 and the inert gas concentration in the reactor is increased while limiting the CO2 amount fed to the reactor. Also provided is an apparatus for conducting the process according to the present invention.