Nottingham-based advanced materials company Promethean Particles has expanded its workforce with three new hires as it scales up the production of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) through its Project REMBRANDT initiative.
Known for its MOF manufacturing technology, the company is leveraging these advanced materials for industrial carbon capture and various other applications. Its efforts include Project REMBRANDT, which has secured a £2.1 million ($2.6m) grant from the UK Government through the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator programme.
MOFs are crystalline materials with exceptional internal surface areas. These structures are designed to trap carbon dioxide (CO2) and have applications in carbon capture technology, energy storage, and more.
According to Promethean Particles, its production method allows for MOFs to be manufactured at a large scale, meeting growing industrial demand.
James Stephenson, CEO of Promethean Particles, highlighted the importance of the project and the company’s recent recruitment efforts. “Launching Project REMBRANDT has enabled us to take a huge step forward, including the recruitment of key new staff such as Andreas, Chitra, and Aaron,” he said.
“Their appointments will help us accelerate our mission to unleash the power of MOFs by more effectively leveraging the numerous advantages of our proprietary manufacturing technology, helping our customers achieve a more energy-efficient carbon capture solution.”
Promethean Particles new starters. ©Promethean Particles
The company states that its newly appointed team members bring a diverse range of expertise. Andreas Must, a manufacturing engineer joining from university, described Promethean’s work as “something unique that has the potential to help change the world.”
Chitra Goel, a senior application engineer with prior experience in carbon capture research, said, “The work that Promethean Particles is doing with MOFs could make a real difference, and I was interested in the novelty and the potential that they hold. MOFs will support the next generations of technology that will be useful for abating the climate change that we are seeing every day around the world.”
Aaron Taylor, a process development engineer with six years of experience in the chemical industry, added, “The company has a commitment to decarbonising the energy sector which will be vitally important to our country in reaching its Net Zero goals, which strongly aligns with my own personal values.”
Promethean Particles was one of fewer than 50 companies awarded funding from a pool of over 600 applicants, and one of just three selected from the UK. The grant allows the company to further develop MOF technology and meet the needs of industries seeking to reduce their emissions.
How do MOFs work?
MOFs are like highly advanced sponges, but instead of soaking up water, they trap CO2 molecules from the air or gas streams.
These materials are made up of metal ions connected by organic molecules, creating a structure full of tiny holes or pores. The pores are incredibly small and precisely sized to catch CO2 molecules while letting other gases, like nitrogen, pass through.
What makes MOFs special is their enormous surface area—just a small amount can have the same surface area as a football field. This means they can capture a lot of CO2 in a very compact space, making them efficient for carbon capture.
Once the CO2 is captured, it can either be stored to prevent it from reaching the atmosphere or used in other industries, like making fuels or building materials.
Driven by the increasing demand for clean energy, the global MOFs market was valued at approximately $8.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of over 13.6% between 2024 and 2032.
