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ProDIA · Project

Cheaper Industrial-Grade Nanoporous Materials Now Produced at Pilot Scale in Europe

manufacturingPilotedTRL 6
prodia-mof.eu

Imagine a sponge so tiny that its pores are measured in billionths of a meter — and those pores can trap specific gas molecules, pollutants, or moisture like a magnet. Scientists have known about these super-sponges (called Metal-Organic Frameworks) for 20 years, but making them cheaply enough for factories has been the bottleneck. ProDIA cracked the manufacturing problem by developing three different production methods that bring costs down to the 10–100 €/kg range — competitive with materials industry already uses. They even built a working prototype of a methane storage cylinder packed with these materials.

By the numbers
10–100 €/kg
Target production cost, competitive with zeolites and activated carbons
3
Innovative production processes developed (water-based, mechanosynthesis, spray-drying)
4
Industrial applications demonstrated (gas storage, air purification, heat pump, healthcare)
16
Consortium partners across 6 European countries
757
Person-months of total project effort
22
Total project deliverables completed
The business problem

What needed solving

Industries that need to store gases efficiently, purify air, or improve heat pump performance are stuck using older materials like zeolites and activated carbons that are either too expensive, too heavy, or not selective enough. Newer nanoporous materials like Metal-Organic Frameworks promised better performance, but until now there was no way to manufacture them cheaply enough or in the right shapes for industrial use.

The solution

What was built

ProDIA developed three pilot-scale production methods (water-based synthesis, mechanosynthesis, spray-drying) for nanoporous materials at costs targeting 10–100 €/kg. They delivered a working prototype methane storage cylinder integrating MOF materials, plus 22 total deliverables covering production, shaping, and demonstration across four application areas.

Audience

Who needs this

CNG/natural gas vehicle fuel system manufacturers needing lighter, more efficient storage tanksHeat pump manufacturers seeking higher-efficiency adsorbent materialsAir purification equipment companies looking for superior filtration mediaChemical companies producing adsorbent materials (potential licensees for MOF production methods)Gas utilities exploring safer low-pressure methane storage solutions
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Natural Gas Storage & Distribution
mid-size
Target: Gas utilities and CNG vehicle fuel system manufacturers

If you are a natural gas distributor or CNG vehicle equipment maker struggling with bulky, heavy storage tanks — this project developed nanoporous materials that store methane far more efficiently at lower pressures. ProDIA delivered a working prototype cylinder containing MOFs, and their three production methods target costs of 10–100 €/kg, making the materials price-competitive with activated carbons and zeolites you already buy.

HVAC & Heat Pump Manufacturing
mid-size
Target: Heat pump and climate system manufacturers

If you are a heat pump manufacturer looking for higher efficiency without redesigning your entire system — ProDIA demonstrated nanoporous materials that can drive adsorption-based heat pumps. These materials were produced at pilot scale using water-based and mechanosynthesis methods, eliminating expensive solvents. With production set up in Europe across 16 partner organizations in 6 countries, supply chain risk is reduced.

Air Purification & Indoor Air Quality
SME
Target: Industrial air filtration and clean room equipment suppliers

If you are an air purification company dealing with customers who demand better pollutant removal from industrial or indoor environments — ProDIA developed shaped nanoporous materials (not just powders) specifically designed for air purification applications. The spray-drying and shaping processes mean these materials can be integrated into existing filter housings, and pilot-scale production makes commercial quantities feasible.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this material cost compared to what we use now?

ProDIA's stated objective was to achieve production costs of 10–100 €/kg, which they describe as price-competitive with advanced zeolites and activated carbons. The three production methods (water-based synthesis, mechanosynthesis, spray-drying) were specifically chosen to cut costs by eliminating expensive solvents and energy-intensive steps.

Can this be manufactured at industrial scale?

ProDIA operated at pilot scale, not full industrial scale. The project set up production facilities in Europe and demonstrated reliability and repeatability of three different manufacturing processes. Scaling from pilot to full production would be the next step for a commercial partner.

Who owns the intellectual property and can I license it?

The IP is distributed among the 16-partner consortium led by SINTEF AS (Norway). The consortium includes 6 industrial partners, so licensing or collaboration agreements would need to be negotiated with the relevant IP holders. Based on available project data, specific patent details are not disclosed in the public summary.

Is there a working prototype I can evaluate?

Yes. ProDIA delivered a prototype integrating a methane storage cylinder containing MOF materials. This is documented as a formal project deliverable, confirming that the technology moved beyond lab testing into a demonstrable hardware stage.

What applications were actually demonstrated?

The project demonstrated nanoporous materials in four application areas: gas storage, air purification, heat pump systems, and healthcare. Each application used materials produced by the project's three pilot-scale manufacturing methods.

How mature is this technology for deployment?

This was an Innovation Action (IA) under Horizon 2020, which typically targets TRL 5–7. With pilot-scale production and a working prototype delivered, the technology is past the lab stage but would still need industrial validation and certification before commercial deployment.

Consortium

Who built it

The ProDIA consortium brings together 16 partners from 6 countries (Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Norway, UK), led by SINTEF AS — one of Europe's largest independent research organizations. The mix is research-heavy with 9 research organizations and 3 universities, but the 4 industrial partners (including 1 SME) ensured real-world validation. The 25% industry ratio means the technology was tested against actual market requirements, though commercialization will likely need additional industrial partners to reach full-scale production. With 757 person-months of effort and 22 deliverables completed, this was a substantial development program, not a small feasibility study.

How to reach the team

SINTEF AS (Norway) — contact via SciTransfer for introduction to the project coordinator and relevant IP holders

Order a report on this consortiumSee SINTEF AS profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to evaluate ProDIA's nanoporous materials for your gas storage, air purification, or heat pump application? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the right consortium partner. Contact us for a one-page technology brief.

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