Myth-busting Carbon capture materials (sorbents, membranes): 10 misconceptions holding teams back

Direct air capture (DAC) costs have plummeted from over $600 per tonne of CO₂ in 2020 to approximately $250–400 per tonne in 2025, with next-generation sorbent and membrane technologies projected to push costs below $100 per tonne by 2035. Yet despite this rapid progress, persistent misconceptions about carbon capture materials continue to delay procurement decisions, misdirect R&D investments, and undermine deployment timelines. This article examines ten of the most damaging myths—backed by peer-reviewed evidence and practitioner insights—to help teams separate marketing narratives from engineering reality.

Why It Matters

The global carbon capture market reached $4.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to exceed $12 billion by 2030, driven by regulatory mandates, corporate net-zero commitments, and breakthrough materials science. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) allocated $3.5 billion through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for DAC hubs, with a stated target of reducing capture costs to $100/tonne CO₂. In 2024-2025, DOE's Carbon Negative Shot initiative funded 23 advanced sorbent projects and 14 membrane separation programs, reflecting the central role materials innovation plays in decarbonization pathways.

Asia-Pacific procurement teams face particular urgency: China's carbon market now covers over 4 billion tonnes of annual emissions, Japan's Green Transformation (GX) strategy commits ¥150 trillion ($1 trillion) to decarbonization through 2033, and South Korea mandates CCUS deployment for hard-to-abate industries. Understanding which materials actually perform—and which claims constitute measurement theater—directly impacts Scope 3 accounting accuracy, supplier due diligence, and long-term capital allocation.

Key Concepts

Solid Sorbents

Solid sorbents capture CO₂ through adsorption onto porous surfaces. They include amine-functionalized materials, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), zeolites, and activated carbons. Regeneration typically occurs via temperature swing adsorption (TSA) or vacuum swing adsorption (VSA), releasing concentrated CO₂ for storage or utilization.

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)

MOFs are crystalline materials with exceptionally high surface areas (up to 7,000 m²/g) and tunable pore geometries. Their modular chemistry enables precise optimization for CO₂ selectivity, though scalable synthesis and moisture stability remain active research areas.

Zeolites

Natural and synthetic zeolites offer proven thermal stability and lower production costs than MOFs. While their CO₂ capacities are generally lower (0.5–3 mmol/g vs. 3–8 mmol/g for top MOFs), they excel in humid flue gas applications where water tolerance is critical.

Amine-Based Materials

Amine-functionalized sorbents—including supported amines on silica, polymeric amine sorbents, and amine-grafted MOFs—leverage the strong chemical affinity between amines and CO₂. They achieve high selectivity even at the 400 ppm ambient concentrations relevant to DAC but require careful thermal management to prevent amine degradation.

Membrane Separation

Membrane-based capture uses selective permeability to separate CO₂ from gas mixtures. Polymeric membranes dominate current deployments, while mixed-matrix membranes (incorporating MOFs or zeolites into polymer matrices) and facilitated transport membranes represent emerging high-performance options.

Electrochemical Capture

Electrochemical systems use pH swings or redox reactions to capture and release CO₂ with potentially lower energy penalties than thermal regeneration. Companies like Verdox are commercializing electroswing adsorption using quinone-based electrodes, achieving regeneration energies below 1 GJ/tonne.

Carbon Capture Materials: Key Performance Metrics

Metric	Solid Sorbents	Membranes	Electrochemical	Target (2030)
CO₂ Capacity (mmol/g)	1.5–8.0	N/A	0.5–2.0	>5.0
Selectivity (CO₂/N₂)	20–200	30–100	50–500	>150
Regeneration Energy (GJ/tonne)	2.5–6.0	1.0–2.5	0.8–1.5	<1.5
Cycle Stability (cycles)	1,000–50,000	10,000+	5,000–20,000	>50,000
Cost ($/kg sorbent)	10–500	50–200/m²	100–1,000	<50
Operating Temperature (°C)	25–120	20–80	20–60	Ambient
Moisture Tolerance	Low–High	Moderate	High	High
TRL Range	4–9	5–8	4–7	9

What's Working and What Isn't

What's Working

Next-Generation Solid Sorbents: Svante's structured adsorbent contactors demonstrate 90% capture rates at industrial scale with regeneration temperatures below 100°C. Their Veloxotherm process achieves full regeneration in under 60 seconds, dramatically improving throughput economics. Climeworks' Orca and Mammoth plants in Iceland use proprietary amine-functionalized filter materials optimized for DAC, capturing over 36,000 tonnes CO₂ annually.

Process Intensification: Rotating adsorber systems, monolithic sorbent structures, and 3D-printed contactors reduce pressure drops by 40–60% compared to packed beds, cutting parasitic energy losses. Carbon Engineering's integration of potassium hydroxide liquid sorbent with solid calcination achieves continuous operation at the 1 MtCO₂/year scale planned for their Texas DAC hub.

Hybrid Systems: Combining membrane pre-concentration with sorbent polishing reduces overall energy consumption by 25–35% for point-source capture. MTR's Polaris membranes paired with temperature swing adsorption demonstrate levelized costs below $40/tonne for coal plant retrofits.

Electrochemical Advances: Verdox's electroswing technology operates at near-ambient temperatures with regeneration energies of 0.9 GJ/tonne—one-third that of conventional thermal systems. MIT spinout Susteon achieved 95% CO₂ purity in 2024 pilot tests using novel ionic liquid membranes with electrochemical regeneration.

What Isn't Working

Energy Penalty Persistence: Despite materials advances, parasitic energy loads of 25–35% remain common for post-combustion capture at power plants. Many sorbents optimized for capacity sacrifice regeneration efficiency, creating systems that capture CO₂ while generating additional emissions from energy consumption.

Degradation Under Real Conditions: Laboratory performance rarely translates to field durability. SO₂, NOx, and particulate matter in flue gases degrade amine sorbents at rates 3–10x faster than clean-gas testing predicts. Mosaic Materials' MOF-274 showed excellent lab stability but required reformulation after field trials revealed humidity-induced framework collapse.

Scale-Up Economics: MOF synthesis costs of $200–500/kg in 2024 remain prohibitive for gigatonne-scale deployment, even as capacity advantages over zeolites are clear. The disconnect between bench-scale promise and industrial-scale economics has stranded multiple venture-backed startups.

Measurement Inconsistency: Lack of standardized testing protocols enables "cherry-picked" performance claims. Capacity measured at 1 bar pure CO₂ can exceed realistic capture conditions by 5–10x, misleading procurement teams unfamiliar with adsorption isotherm interpretation.

Key Players

Established Leaders

Climeworks (Switzerland): Pioneer in commercial DAC with operational plants in Iceland and Switzerland. Mammoth facility (36,000 tCO₂/year) uses proprietary amine-functionalized cellulose filters with waste heat regeneration. Secured $650M in funding through 2024.

Carbon Engineering (Canada/USA): Developer of liquid-solvent DAC technology using potassium hydroxide and calcium looping. Partnered with Occidental Petroleum for a 1 MtCO₂/year facility in Texas, targeting $100–150/tonne costs at scale.

Svante (Canada): Industrial carbon capture specialist using proprietary structured adsorbent contactors. Veloxotherm technology licensed to Chevron, BASF, and multiple cement manufacturers. Operating projects capture >1 MtCO₂/year combined.

Air Liquide (France): Major industrial gas company with Cryocap membrane systems for high-purity CO₂ separation. Active in 15+ CCUS projects globally with integrated liquefaction and transport infrastructure.

Linde (Germany/USA): Deploys amine scrubbing and membrane hybrid systems across refining and chemical sectors. Partnership with BASF on OASE gas treatment technology captures >5 MtCO₂/year across installations.

Emerging Startups

Verdox (USA): MIT spinout commercializing electroswing adsorption using quinone electrodes. Raised $80M Series B in 2024 for pilot deployments targeting regeneration energies below 1 GJ/tonne.

Mosaic Materials (USA): Developing diamine-appended MOFs with step-shaped isotherms ideal for low-concentration capture. Pivoted from pure DAC to industrial applications after Series A challenges.

Heirloom Carbon (USA): Uses limestone-based enhanced weathering combined with structured contactors. Achieved $200/tonne costs in 2024 pilots with pathway to <$100/tonne through process optimization.

Sustaera (USA): Electrochemical DAC using novel bipolar membrane electrodialysis. DOE-funded $2M pilot demonstrated continuous operation at 100 kg CO₂/day.

CarbonCapture Inc. (USA): Modular DAC systems using proprietary solid sorbent modules. Wyoming Project Bison targets 5 MtCO₂/year capacity by 2030.

Key Investors & Funders

U.S. Department of Energy: $3.5B for DAC hubs, $100M Carbon Negative Shot program, ARPA-E funding for breakthrough materials research.

Breakthrough Energy Ventures: Backed Climeworks, Carbon Engineering, Heirloom, and numerous materials startups. Bill Gates' $2B climate fund prioritizes capture technology scale-up.

Lowercarbon Capital: Aggressive climate tech investor with positions in CarbonCapture Inc., Sustaera, and emerging electrochemical startups.

Japan's NEDO: ¥200B committed to CCUS demonstration through 2030, emphasizing membrane and sorbent development for Asian manufacturing contexts.

10 Misconceptions About Carbon Capture Materials

Misconception 1: Higher CO₂ Capacity Always Means Better Performance

The Myth: Teams often select sorbents based solely on maximum adsorption capacity figures, assuming 8 mmol/g materials outperform 3 mmol/g alternatives.

The Reality: Working capacity—the difference between adsorption and desorption states—matters more than absolute capacity. A material with 8 mmol/g maximum capacity but 6 mmol/g residual loading after regeneration delivers only 2 mmol/g working capacity. Materials with steeper isotherms and easier regeneration often outperform high-capacity alternatives. Svante's commercial sorbents deliberately optimize for working capacity and cycle speed rather than maximum theoretical uptake.

Misconception 2: MOFs Are Ready for Industrial Deployment

The Myth: Metal-organic frameworks' exceptional laboratory performance means they're ready to replace conventional sorbents at scale.

The Reality: MOF production costs remain 5–20x higher than zeolites or supported amines. Moisture sensitivity, mechanical fragility, and synthesis scalability challenges limit commercial deployments to niche applications. As of 2025, no DAC facility operates primarily on MOF-based sorbents. BASF's MOF commercialization for methane storage took 15 years from lab discovery to product launch—carbon capture MOFs remain years behind that timeline.

Misconception 3: Membrane Systems Cannot Achieve High Capture Rates

The Myth: Membranes are only suitable for bulk separation, not the 90%+ capture rates required for meaningful climate impact.

The Reality: Multi-stage membrane systems routinely achieve >95% CO₂ capture rates. MTR's Polaris membranes demonstrate 90% capture with <1.5 GJ/tonne energy penalty in natural gas processing. The key is proper staging design and hybrid integration with polishing technologies. For point-source applications with >10% CO₂ concentrations, membranes increasingly outcompete sorbent-only approaches on levelized cost.

Misconception 4: Electrochemical Capture Is Too Immature for Procurement Consideration

The Myth: Electrochemical systems belong in university labs, not commercial procurement pipelines.

The Reality: Verdox achieved TRL 6 in 2024 with continuous pilot operation exceeding 1,000 hours. Electrochemical approaches offer fundamental thermodynamic advantages—regeneration can occur at ambient temperature using renewable electricity rather than fossil-derived heat. For organizations with cheap renewable power access, electrochemical pathways may reach cost parity with thermal systems within 3–5 years. Procurement teams should include electrochemical options in technology watch lists.

Misconception 5: Amine Degradation Makes Solid Sorbents Impractical

The Myth: Chemical degradation of amine groups renders solid sorbents economically unviable for long-term operation.

The Reality: Modern amine-functionalized sorbents demonstrate 50,000+ cycle stability under realistic conditions. Climeworks' materials have operated commercially for >5 years without replacement. The key factors are operating temperature control (avoiding >120°C), pre-treatment of corrosive contaminants, and proper humidity management. Degradation is a solvable engineering challenge, not a fundamental materials limitation.

Misconception 6: DAC Materials Cannot Work in Humid Climates

The Myth: Direct air capture sorbents require dry conditions found only in deserts, limiting deployment geography.

The Reality: While water co-adsorption reduces effective CO₂ capacity, humidity also enables unique process designs. Climeworks' Iceland operations leverage 80%+ relative humidity without performance collapse. Some sorbent chemistries actually benefit from moisture—water vapor can enhance amine-CO₂ reaction kinetics. Asia-Pacific deployments in humid regions are technically feasible with appropriate material selection and process design.

Misconception 7: Point-Source and DAC Materials Are Interchangeable

The Myth: Sorbents optimized for flue gas capture work equally well for direct air capture applications.

The Reality: Point-source applications involve 10–15% CO₂ concentrations; DAC operates at 420 ppm (0.042%). This 300x concentration difference fundamentally changes optimal material properties. DAC sorbents require exceptionally strong CO₂ binding (high heat of adsorption) to capture dilute CO₂, while point-source materials need weaker binding for energy-efficient regeneration. Diamine-appended MOFs excel at DAC; simpler physisorbents perform better for concentrated sources. Procurement specifications must match application context.

Misconception 8: Lab-Scale Capacity Translates Directly to Field Performance

The Myth: Published adsorption capacities from peer-reviewed papers accurately predict commercial system performance.

The Reality: Laboratory measurements typically use pure CO₂, controlled temperatures, and pristine materials. Field conditions include SO₂ (0.5–50 ppm), NOx (50–500 ppm), particulates, and temperature swings that reduce effective capacity by 30–70%. A 2024 IEA analysis found average real-world sorbent capacities reached only 45% of laboratory values. Procurement teams should demand pilot-scale data under representative conditions, not idealized laboratory metrics.

Misconception 9: Lower Regeneration Temperature Always Reduces Costs

The Myth: Sorbents regenerating at 60°C are inherently more economical than those requiring 120°C.

The Reality: Total energy consumption—not temperature alone—determines operating economics. Some low-temperature sorbents have shallow isotherms requiring extensive vacuum swing, whose electricity consumption exceeds the cost of heat at higher temperatures. Waste heat availability also matters: industrial sites with 150°C steam may prefer higher-temperature sorbents utilizing otherwise-wasted energy. Context-specific energy integration analysis must inform material selection.

Misconception 10: Carbon Capture Materials Costs Will Follow Solar Panel Trajectories

The Myth: Learning rates from solar PV (20%+ cost reduction per doubling of capacity) will drive sorbent costs down similarly.

The Reality: Solar panel cost reductions derived largely from silicon purification and manufacturing automation—processes with clear scaling pathways. Sorbent manufacturing involves complex chemistry with rate-limiting synthesis steps resistant to simple scale economies. Realistic learning rates are 8–12% per capacity doubling, not 20%+. DOE's $100/tonne target requires both materials innovation and process engineering advances, not manufacturing scale alone. Teams should model conservative cost trajectories in project economics.

Action Checklist

• Request pilot-scale performance data under realistic flue gas or ambient conditions, not laboratory benchmarks
• Verify supplier claims against DOE NETL testing protocols or equivalent standardized methodologies
• Conduct total cost of ownership analysis including sorbent replacement, energy consumption, and maintenance—not just upfront capital costs
• Evaluate electrochemical and hybrid approaches alongside conventional thermal regeneration for renewable-powered sites
• Engage independent third-party verification (e.g., Carbon Direct, Puro.earth) for carbon accounting claims before finalizing procurement contracts
• Establish degradation testing requirements aligned with actual operating conditions and contaminant profiles
• Include technology refresh clauses in long-term contracts given rapid materials innovation pace

FAQ

Q: What regeneration energy should we target for economically viable carbon capture? A: For point-source capture at >10% CO₂ concentration, target <2.5 GJ/tonne regeneration energy to achieve levelized costs below $50/tonne. For DAC at 420 ppm CO₂, current commercial systems operate at 4–6 GJ/tonne; next-generation electrochemical systems target <1.5 GJ/tonne required for <$100/tonne DAC. Site-specific energy costs, waste heat availability, and renewable electricity pricing ultimately determine acceptable thresholds.

Q: How do we verify supplier claims about sorbent performance? A: Require data from standardized testing protocols such as DOE NETL's benchmark testing program or ASTM emerging standards for carbon capture materials. Request cycling stability data exceeding 1,000 cycles under representative conditions. Where possible, conduct independent verification through organizations like Carbon Direct or national laboratories. Beware of capacity figures measured at 1 bar pure CO₂—these can exceed realistic performance by 5–10x.

Q: Should we wait for MOF technology to mature before major procurement decisions? A: No. Current amine-functionalized sorbents and structured contactors deliver proven performance at commercial scale. MOF advantages in capacity and selectivity are real but not decisive when total system economics are considered. Proceed with available technologies while maintaining technology watch on MOF scale-up progress. Consider structured offtake agreements with refresh provisions allowing technology upgrades.

Q: What role should membranes play in our carbon capture strategy? A: Membranes excel in pre-concentration applications for streams with >5% CO₂, reducing downstream sorbent or solvent sizing by 60–80%. For sub-1% streams, membrane-only approaches struggle economically. Hybrid membrane-sorbent systems increasingly represent best practice for industrial retrofits. DAC applications remain challenging for membranes due to thermodynamic limitations at 420 ppm concentrations.

Q: How do we account for carbon capture materials in Scope 3 emissions reporting? A: Embodied emissions in sorbent manufacturing (5–50 kg CO₂/kg sorbent), energy consumption during operation, and transportation/disposal must be included in lifecycle assessments. The GHG Protocol's forthcoming guidance on carbon removal and capture accounting (expected 2026) will standardize methodologies. Currently, use ISO 14064-2 project accounting principles with transparent system boundary documentation. Engage third-party verification to ensure credibility with stakeholders and regulators.

Sources

• International Energy Agency (IEA). "Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage: Technology Report 2024." Paris: IEA Publications, 2024.
• U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory. "Carbon Capture Program: Sorbent-Based Technologies Review." Pittsburgh: NETL, 2024.
• Fasihi, M., Efimova, O., and Breyer, C. "Techno-economic assessment of CO₂ direct air capture plants." Journal of Cleaner Production 224 (2019): 957-980.
• Custelcean, R. "Direct Air Capture of CO₂ via Crystal Engineering." Chemical Science 15 (2024): 5101-5115.
• McQueen, N., et al. "A review of direct air capture (DAC): scaling up commercial technologies and innovating for the future." Progress in Energy 3 (2021): 032001.
• Global CCS Institute. "Global Status of CCS 2024." Melbourne: Global CCS Institute, 2024.
• Keith, D.W., et al. "A Process for Capturing CO₂ from the Atmosphere." Joule 2.8 (2018): 1573-1594.