EXHIBIT 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated March 22, 2018 relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedule, which appears in PQ Group Holdings Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

October 1, 2018