ROLINCAP · Project

Smaller, Cheaper CO2 Capture Using Phase-Change Solvents and Spinning Contactors

energyTestedTRL 5

Capturing CO2 from factory or power plant exhaust today requires huge towers and enormous amounts of energy to recycle the cleaning liquid. The ROLINCAP team developed special solvents that split into two layers when heated — so you only need to reheat the concentrated half, cutting energy costs dramatically. They also replaced those tall towers with compact spinning contactors, like industrial centrifuges, that do the same job in a fraction of the space. The goal: CO2 capture equipment that uses less than 2.0 GJ per ton of CO2 and is several times smaller than what's on the market today.

By the numbers

< 2.0 GJ/ton CO2

Target regeneration energy requirement

Several times smaller

Equipment size reduction vs. conventional processes

EUR 3,089,845

EU research investment

12 partners, 5 countries

Consortium size and geographic reach

TRL 4-5

Technology readiness level achieved in pilot testing

42%

Industry partner ratio in consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Carbon capture from industrial exhaust is expensive and space-hungry. Conventional amine scrubbing requires tall absorption columns and massive energy input to regenerate the solvent — often making the economics unworkable without heavy subsidies. Companies facing carbon pricing or emission caps need capture technology that costs less to run and fits into existing plant layouts.

The solution

What was built

The project developed and pilot-tested new phase-change solvents identified through computer-aided molecular design, compact rotating packed bed (RPB) contactor prototypes tested at TRL 4-5, and predictive process modeling software (SAFT-γ equation of state) validated at TRL 5 in the gPROMS simulator. Life cycle and safety assessments were completed for both the solvents and processes.

Audience

Who needs this

Power plant operators facing carbon capture mandates or carbon pricingCement and steel manufacturers needing to reduce process emissionsChemical companies developing next-generation carbon capture solventsEPC firms designing compact CCUS installationsOil and gas companies evaluating post-combustion capture for refinery operations

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Power Generation & Heavy Industry

enterprise

Target: Coal or gas-fired power plants, cement factories, or steel mills with post-combustion CO2 emissions

If you are a power plant operator or cement manufacturer facing tightening carbon emission regulations — this project developed rotating packed bed (RPB) contactors and phase-change solvents tested at TRL 4-5 that target regeneration energy below 2.0 GJ/ton CO2. That means significantly lower operating costs for your carbon capture installation and equipment that is several times smaller than conventional absorption columns, freeing up valuable plant footprint.

Chemical & Solvent Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Specialty chemical companies producing industrial solvents or gas treatment chemicals

If you are a chemical manufacturer looking for next-generation product lines in the growing carbon capture market — this project used computer-aided molecular design to identify new phase-change solvents that go far beyond the handful of options available today. These solvents were tested in pilot plants and modeled using the SAFT-γ equation of state in the gPROMS simulator at TRL 5, giving you a validated product development pathway.

Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC)

enterprise

Target: Engineering firms designing carbon capture or gas processing installations

If you are an EPC company bidding on carbon capture projects and need to offer competitive, compact solutions — this project produced validated process designs for rotating packed bed systems that are several times smaller than conventional packed columns. The designs include life cycle assessment and safety-health-environmental hazard data, giving you ready-to-use engineering inputs for your next CCUS project proposal.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much could this reduce our CO2 capture operating costs?

The project targeted regeneration energy below 2.0 GJ/ton CO2, which is a significant reduction compared to conventional amine scrubbing (typically 3.5-4.0 GJ/ton). Lower energy consumption translates directly into lower operating expenditure for your capture plant. However, exact cost savings depend on your specific energy prices and plant configuration.

Can this work at industrial scale, not just in a lab?

ROLINCAP tested selected phase-change solvents and new rotating packed bed column concepts at TRL 4 and TRL 5 pilot plants. The process modeling software was also validated at TRL 5 in the gPROMS process simulator. Scaling from TRL 5 to full industrial deployment would still require further engineering and demonstration at larger scale.

What is the IP situation and can we license this technology?

The project involved 12 partners across 5 countries, including 5 industrial partners and 2 SMEs. IP ownership is likely shared under the Horizon 2020 consortium agreement. Licensing discussions would need to go through the coordinator (CERTH in Greece) and relevant industrial partners who contributed to specific components.

How does the equipment size compare to what we use now?

According to the project objectives, rotating packed bed technology offers considerable reduction of equipment size — several times smaller compared to conventional absorption processes. This is because the spinning contactors use centrifugal force to intensify gas-liquid contact, achieving the same separation in a much more compact device.

Has the environmental and safety impact been assessed?

Yes. The project included life cycle assessment analysis and safety, health, and environmental hazard assessment for both the new solvents and the RPB processes. This means you get sustainability data alongside the technical performance data, which is increasingly required for permitting and investment decisions.

What software tools came out of this project?

The project developed a new SAFT-γ equation of state implementation tested at TRL 5 within the gPROMS process simulator. This software enables predictive modeling of both physical and chemical equilibrium for a wide range of solvent options, going far beyond the capabilities of existing commercial simulators for carbon capture design.

How long would it take to deploy this in our facility?

Based on available project data, the technology reached TRL 4-5 by project end in September 2019. Moving to commercial deployment would require further scale-up, detailed engineering, and likely a larger demonstration project. A realistic timeline from current state to deployment would depend on investment and regulatory approvals.

Consortium

Who built it

ROLINCAP brought together 12 partners from 5 countries (Germany, Greece, South Korea, Sweden, and the UK), with a strong mix of 6 universities, 5 industrial partners, and 1 research organization. The 42% industry ratio signals genuine commercial interest in this technology. The inclusion of 2 SMEs alongside larger industrial players suggests both established companies and agile innovators see market potential. The international spread — notably including South Korea — indicates global relevance beyond European markets. The EUR 3,089,845 EU investment funded a 3-year effort that reached pilot-scale testing, providing a solid foundation for companies looking to adopt or co-develop this technology further.

ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXISCoordinator · EL
THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELDparticipant · UK
IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINEparticipant · UK
UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNEparticipant · UK
KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYparticipant · KR
SIEMENS PROCESS SYSTEMS ENGINEERING LIMITEDparticipant · UK
CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOGSKOLA ABparticipant · SE

How to reach the team

The coordinator is CERTH (National Centre for Research and Technology) in Greece. SciTransfer can facilitate an introduction to the project team.

Order a report on this consortium See ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXIS profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore whether ROLINCAP's compact CO2 capture technology fits your operations? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the research team and help you evaluate the business case.

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