Promethean Particles, a Nottingham-based climate tech company, has secured an £8 million investment. The funds will be used to mass-produce metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of nanoparticles engineered to capture and store greenhouse gases. The funding, led by Mercia Ventures and Aramco Ventures, will help the company expand its manufacturing capabilities. Promethean Particles aims to drive down the cost of MOFs from tens of thousands of pounds to just £25 per kilogram.
The Power of Metal-Organic Frameworks
MOFs are highly porous nanoparticles with extremely large internal surface areas. A single teaspoon of these super-adsorbent particles contains the equivalent surface area of two tennis courts. By engineering the internal surfaces of MOFs to become “sticky” for specific gases, these nanoparticles can act as both mini-sponges and mini-sieves. They efficiently separate and store large volumes of different gases.
The potential applications of MOFs in reducing the climate impact of industries have garnered significant interest. Cement, metal, and energy production continue to emit significant quantities of greenhouse gases. MOFs could help mitigate these emissions.
Scaling Up Production and Reducing Costs
James Stephenson, CEO of Promethean Particles, emphasized the company’s mission to address global climate issues. By focusing on producing MOFs from cheap, widely available metals such as zinc and magnesium, Promethean aims to dramatically reduce costs. This will make MOFs a more viable solution for large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects.
The £8 million investment will enable Promethean Particles to:
- Build a larger manufacturing facility
- Expand its team of scientists and engineers
- Accelerate the development and scaling up of MOF production
- Demonstrate the true potential of these innovative materials
The Future of Carbon Capture and Storage
CCS has long been proposed as an essential component of national plans for a carbon-neutral future. However, the high costs and energy-intensive nature of current CCS technologies have hindered large-scale project implementation. The ability of MOFs to filter out greenhouse gases at the source and store them for easier transportation could be a game-changer.
Selina Ambrose, product manager at Promethean Particles, expressed excitement about the company’s future. She stated that the expanded team will focus on further developing and scaling up MOF technology. The goal is to “show the world what MOFs can really do.”
As the world seeks innovative solutions to combat climate change, advancements in MOF technology offer a promising path. Companies like Promethean Particles are leading the way towards a more sustainable future.
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