CO2 separation and recovery technology development challenge 1
Crasus Chemical is conducting joint research with a group led by Dr. Susumu Kitagawa, director and deputy vice-president of Kyoto University and distinguished professor at the Institute for Advanced Study who was awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his contribution to the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).
Social implementation of PCPs (MOFs), a theme that won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, is coming into the limelight
In an effort to achieve a carbon neutral society, Crasus Chemical is conducting joint research with a group led by Dr. Susumu Kitagawa at Kyoto University with the aim of achieving social implementation of technologies that apply porous coordination polymers (PCP). Also known as metal-organic frameworks (MOF), these materials are key to the CO2 separation and recovery process. In 2025, the development PCPs (MOFs) was recognized by receiving the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, increasing expectations for its social implementation.
2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to the three scientists engaged in the development of MOFs: Susumu Kitagawa (Kyoto University), Richard Robson (University of Melbourne), and Omar M. Yaghi (University of California, Berkeley). An MOF, also known as PCP, represents a new type of chemical compound with a porous structure made by combining metal ions and organic molecules. It is characterized by its high design capability, well-defined crystalline structure, and strong adsorption. These characteristics allow for precise structural design at molecular levels for the size, shape, and opening area of voids, enabling selective molecular adsorption and reaction acceleration. The recent Nobel Prize in Chemistry has cast a fresh spotlight on the potential of PCP (MOF) to provide solutions to various social issues related to water resources, CO2 recovery, toxic gas adsorption, and catalysts, among others.
Research and development for PCP (MOF) applications
In 2003, Crasus Chemical (Showa Denko K.K. at that time) began to roll out R&D activities to establish gas separation and recovery processes by applying PCP (MOF) technologies developed by Dr. Kitagawa in an academia-business collaboration formed by matching the university’s potential technology with industrial needs. While engaging in collaborative activities over many years, we built a solid record of technical achievements, including those used in the NEDO-commissioned research project launched in 2022 to “develop and demonstrate smaller-scale CO2 separation and recovery technologies targeting industrial fumes and develop a low-concentration CO2 separation system using an innovative separating agent.” In this project, we conduct joint research with a group led by Dr. Kitagawa to develop PCP (MOF) technology applications for CO2 separation and recovery. Our plan is to combine the group’s expertise in material design and structural analysis and our technology implementation capabilities chiefly for scale-up, process safety, and mass production quality assurance, and apply research results so as to adapt to industrial purposes.
This joint research project is scheduled for a nine-year period, with a stage gate set at intervals of three years. The initial phase involved the stage of determining the structure of the separating agent. A myriad of candidate materials were synthesized and evaluated based on the expertise offered by Dr. Kitagawa. The project is currently in the second phase, which centers on examination of volume production methods and operation conditions. We are running bench testing under use conditions (temperature, pressure, impurities, etc.), aiming to satisfy required standards in terms of performance reproducibility, durability, selectivity, and stability. The plan for the final phase is to carry out a pilot-scale demonstration test.
Aiming for social implementation
Crasus Chemical is promoting initiatives aimed at achieving carbon neutrality, including this joint research project representing a core theme. At the same time, we recognize that, in addition to recovering CO2, utilization of recovered CO2 is an important issue. So, we are also pursuing R&D to establish technologies for converting recovered CO2 into useful chemical products. We are aiming at the social implementation of such technologies, looking to reduce and utilize CO2 emissions from our own operations as well as helping recover low-concentration CO2, an issue that needs to be addressed, thus contributing to achieving carbon neutrality.
【Related Links】
Measures to Achieve Carbon Neutrality
Congratulatory Message on Professor Susumu Kitagawa’s Winning of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry
