PCI develops compact, high-efficiency carbon capture technologies that integrate with low-carbon heat sources, industrial processes, and low-grade thermal sources. Our Microlith® platform and sorbent coatings enable fast cycles, low pressure drop, and high mass/heat transfer rates for both direct air capture and point-source applications.

What we deliver

• Direct Air Capture (DAC) modules engineered for waste-heat integration.
• Post-Combustion/Point Source Carbon Capture (PCC/PSCC) modules for industrial flue gas and power plants.
• Onboard / Distributed Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) concepts for hard-to-abate mobile and remote systems.
• CO₂ polishing and air revitalization modules and systems for ventilation and closed environments.
• CO₂ utilization (CCUS) via electrochemical or thermochemical approaches to produce high quality CO for use in syngas or other upgrading processes.

Direct Air Capture (DAC)

PCI’s DAC approach pairs a regenerable solid sorbent with our Microlith® substrate to increase contact area and reduce thermal mass, enabling rapid adsorption/desorption half-cycles with waste-heat driven regeneration. Our designs target low operating costs, low thermal energy requirements and compact footprints for modular deployment.

Benefits & Attributes

• Tight thermal integration with geothermal, data centers, waste heat and other low-carbon heat sources.
• Low pressure drop and rapid regeneration cycles for higher throughput per unit volume.
• Modular architecture from pilot size to full-scale systems.

Post-Combustion/Point Source Carbon Capture (PCC/PSCC)

Our compact, modular carbon capture modules and systems contain high-capacity nanosorbents on a tailorable substrate for optimum performance in a variety of settings. The contactor configuration is designed for rapid heat transfer and low temperature swing regeneration operating modes needed for cost-effective carbon capture, with significantly reduced energy requirements versus conventional technologies.

Technology Advantages

• High space velocity with low pressure drop
• Rapid heat/mass transfer for short cycles and smaller hardware
• Efficient system design to reduce parasitic loss
• Upgrade pathway as next-gen sorbents emerge
• Significant energy and cost reduction compared to conventional technologies

Enabling Technologies

Microlith® Substrate

PCI’s patented Microlith® technology consists of a series of discrete, ultra-short channel length monoliths with low pressure drop. Combined with our advanced sorbent coating technology enables the design of high cell density, low thermal mass contactors and smaller, lighter and higher efficiency carbon capture systems. The overall rates of mass and heat transfer are significantly increased by the substrate design, allowing for more rapid response to thermal inputs as well as improved rates of carbon adsorption and desorption.

Advanced Sorbents & Coatings

PCI formulates and deposits a range of sorbents on Microlith® substrates that enable full utilization of sorbent capacity and accelerate transport and sorption kinetics with demonstrated improved durability.

Air Revitalization

PCI is partnering with stackholders for CO₂ adsorbers and trace contaminant control (TCC) for enclosed spaces, including spacecraft and submarine environments. Making use of Federal and private funding, these products are designed and evaluated at PCI and partner sites to meet NASA and DoW stringent confined space air quality requirements.

Why PCI?

• Compact, lightweight hardware with system-level thermal integration.
• Proven track record in DAC and PCC.
• Significant energy and cost savings compared to conventional carbon management technologies.