Promethean Particles
Promethean Particles is a UK-based industrial manufacturer of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) using proprietary continuous-flow reactor technology, serving hard-to-abate sectors including carbon capture, biogas upgrading, gas storage, and water harvesting.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersNottingham, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Promethean Particles does
Promethean Particles is a UK-based industrial manufacturer of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs), headquartered in Nottingham and operating as a spin-out from the University of Nottingham. The company uses a proprietary continuous-flow reactor process to produce MOFs at industrial scale, claiming the world's largest such facility with nameplate capacity of 1,000 tonnes per year. Its products target hard-to-abate industrial applications including post-combustion carbon capture, biogas upgrading, gas storage, and atmospheric water harvesting. The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, awarded to foundational MOF researchers, materially elevated the visibility of the category in which the company operates.
The company's technology differentiation centers on continuous-flow synthesis versus conventional batch MOF production methods prevalent in academic and pilot settings, which the company states enables industrial volumes with an 86.3% lower energy penalty for carbon capture compared to conventional amine-based systems. Particle size and morphology control, protected by patents stemming from University of Nottingham research, are positioned as key technical capabilities. The business model is B2B industrial sales, with customers qualifying MOF materials for their specific process applications over multi-month to multi-year cycles.
The go-to-market combines large industrial pilots (such as Project MONET with Drax for power-sector carbon capture), multi-tonne commercial shipments (including a 4-tonne export to continental Europe in November 2025), and lower-volume R&D packs aimed at academic and research buyers. The company is privately held, venture-backed with an £8M Series A closed in August 2024 led by Mercia Ventures and Aramco Ventures, and has grown headcount from 11 to 16+ employees through 2024-2025 alongside the appointment of its first CFO in October 2025.
Promethean Particles firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Promethean Particles
- Legal name
- Promethean Particles Limited
- Website
- https://prometheanparticles.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Promethean Particles is a UK-based industrial manufacturer of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) using proprietary continuous-flow reactor technology, serving hard-to-abate sectors including carbon capture, biogas upgrading, gas storage, and water harvesting.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Promethean Particles industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Nanomaterials / Carbon Capture Materials
- NAICS
- Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (325180), Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (32519)
- SIC
- Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (2810), Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)
- akta.pro primary industry
- PCB & Electronics Manufacturing Chemicals (Desmear, micro-etch, plating, fluxes) (IMAEAKAL)
Keywords
Where Promethean Particles is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nottingham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Promethean Particles business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- MOF Product Sales: Sale of manufactured metal-organic framework materials to customers across carbon capture, biogas upgrading, water harvesting, and gas storage applications. Products are sold to industrial customers via the company website with credit/debit card or invoice payment options, and are explicitly not suitable for consumer purchase.
- MOF Synthesis Evaluation & Scale-Up Services: Professional services including feasibility studies, MOF synthesis evaluation, performance studies, and scale-up assessment. Charged on a time and materials basis or as set out in a Service Specification, with daily fee rates and additional charges for expenses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MOF Products (standard catalog) |
| Other | Monthly | MOF Scale-up and Feasibility Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
Promethean Particles product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Promethean Particles manufactures metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) at industrial scale and cost-effective price points using a proprietary, patented continuous-flow reactor process. It sells MOF products and complementary scale-up, feasibility, and performance testing services to industrial and research customers in carbon capture, biogas upgrading, atmospheric water harvesting, and gas storage and separation applications. The company's core differentiator is enabling the first commercially viable, industrially scalable MOF production from its continuous-flow manufacturing plant in Nottingham, UK.
Product overview
Promethean Particles is a specialist manufacturer of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) offering both a core product line and complementary services. The company's primary offering is industrial-scale MOF manufacturing using its proprietary and patented continuous-flow production process. This core product is supplemented by MOF Scale-up Services that include feasibility studies, synthesis evaluation, and performance testing to help customers assess MOF viability. Application-specific solutions encompass Carbon Capture, Biogas Upgrading, Atmospheric Water Harvesting, and Gas Storage and Separation modules, all powered by the company's scalable MOF technology platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Industrial-scale manufactured metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) produced using a proprietary continuous-flow reactor process. MOFs are crystalline materials with ultra-high surface areas that can trap and store gases and liquids, sold for use in carbon capture, biogas upgrading, atmospheric water harvesting, and gas storage and separation applications. Products are sold to industrial and research customers, not to individual consumers.
- MOF Scale-up Services Expert consulting and laboratory services including MOF Synthesis Evaluation, MOF Scale-up Feasibility, and MOF Performance Study, helping customers determine whether their MOF is technically and economically viable at industrial scale. Services are scoped via Service Specifications and charged on a time and materials basis, targeting researchers, R&D teams, and companies exploring MOF applications.
- Carbon Capture Solutions MOF-based post-combustion carbon capture technology offering more energy-efficient and smaller-footprint solutions compared to traditional amine-based methods, including a real-world demonstration at Drax Group's Selby biomass power station (Project MONET) capturing 0.5-1.0 tonnes of CO2 per day. Targeted at power generation, cement, steel, and chemical producers seeking to decarbonise.
- Biogas Upgrading Solutions MOF-based technology for upgrading raw biogas to biomethane (95%+ methane purity) by adsorbing and separating CO2, offering lower pressure requirements and energy savings versus membrane-based separations. Targeted at anaerobic digestion operators processing organic waste (food waste, crop residues, animal manure, sewage sludge) for grid injection, vehicle fuel, or CHP use.
- Atmospheric Water Harvesting Solutions MOF-based systems for harvesting water from the atmosphere, designed for decentralised and remote systems operating across a wide range of climatic conditions (including arid climates) with minimal energy input. Targeted at water-scarce regions, drought-affected areas, and remote/off-grid communities lacking centralised water infrastructure.
- Gas Storage and Separation Solutions MOF-based solutions for gas storage and separation, enabling more energy-efficient processes for producing and storing high-purity industrial gases including for semiconductors, battery manufacturing, green chemical production, hydrogen storage, and oxygen/nitrogen/argon purification. Evidenced by Promethean's four-tonne MOF export to a continental European customer in November 2025 for an energy-efficient gas storage application.
Quantifiable outcome
- 86.3% lower energy penalty vs amine-based carbon capture (4.75 GJ/te CO2 for amines vs. MOFs)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Promethean Particles
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Promethean Particles technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Promethean Particles partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, moderate and core.
- Nobel Prize FoundationminorThe 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar Yaghi — the scientists who pioneered MOF chemistry. CEO James Stephenson welcomed this recognition as a landmark moment that validates MOFs as a platform technology with huge environmental, industrial, and economic benefits.
- WIRED Consulting / HSBC UKmoderatePromethean was selected as one of WIRED's 2025 Trailblazers — a list of the country's most innovative high-growth firms compiled by WIRED Consulting in partnership with HSBC UK. Recognition includes entry to the Scale-Up Knowledge Hub for business development and mentorship.
- World Biogas AssociationmoderatePromethean became a member of the World Biogas Association — the global trade association for the biogas, landfill gas, and anaerobic digestion sectors. Membership provides access to biogas industry experts, understanding of evolving government policies, and network expansion in the target biogas upgrading market.
- Drax GroupcoreHost of Project MONET (MOF-based Negative Emissions Technology) — Promethean's flagship carbon capture demonstration project at Drax's Selby biomass power station. A MOF demonstration unit was delivered and installed to capture CO2 from real-world flue gas at 0.5-1.0 tonnes per day. Drax provides the real-world operational environment critical for demonstrating MOF viability.
- University of NottinghamcorePromethean is a spin-out from the University of Nottingham. The university is conducting a lifecycle assessment and technoeconomic analysis of MOF-based carbon capture for Project MONET. CSO Ed Lester developed the core MOF technology over 15+ years at the university. The university is also an investor through the Series A round.
- Royal Society (FLAIR Programme)minorLeah Matsinha, Senior Technical Scientist at Promethean, is a fellow of the Royal Society's Future Leaders: African Independent Researcher (FLAIR) programme. The fellowship supports outstanding African researchers and provides Promethean access to top talent and research networks.
- Captivate TechnologymoderateCollaboration with Captivate Technology to scale-up the production of a specific MOF, combining Promethean's manufacturing capability with Captivate's scale-up expertise for customer-specific applications.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Promethean Particles competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Mosaic Materials (acquired by Baker Hughes): Mosaic Materials developed MOF-based carbon capture technology and was acquired by Baker Hughes in 2022. It is the most direct competitor to Promethean's carbon capture application, with comparable MOF chemistry targeting post-combustion CO2 capture at industrial sites.
- NuMat Technologies: NuMat Technologies (ION-X brand) is a specialist MOF manufacturer focused on toxic industrial gas storage and detection applications. Directly comparable as a MOF-focused materials company with proprietary manufacturing serving industrial B2B customers.
Broad incumbents
- BASF: BASF is the world's largest chemical company with active MOF research and a broad portfolio of specialty chemicals, gas treatment, and carbon capture materials. As a broad incumbent, BASF has both the R&D capabilities and customer relationships to compete in MOFs alongside Promethean.
- Linde plc: Linde is one of the world's largest industrial gas companies, with major operations in gas separation, storage, and purification. It is a potential customer for Promethean's gas storage/separation MOFs and a broad incumbent that could enter MOF production at scale.
Emerging players
- Svante: Svante is a Canadian cleantech company developing solid sorbent-based carbon capture technology for industrial emitters. It targets the same hard-to-abate sectors (cement, steel, power generation) as Promethean's MOF carbon capture, competing on energy efficiency and footprint.
- Carbon Clean: Carbon Clean develops modular solvent-based carbon capture technology (CycloneCC) for industrial applications. It is an emerging competitor in the same post-combustion carbon capture market as Promethean, though using amine-solvent chemistry rather than MOFs.
- Climeworks: Climeworks is the world's leading direct air capture (DAC) company, with Mammoth (Iceland) and other commercial-scale DAC plants. While DAC is a different point-source vs atmospheric capture debate, Climeworks competes in the broader carbon capture value chain and has demonstrated large-scale deployment of sorbent technology.
Regional players
- Carbotech (Air Liquide): Carbotech is a German biogas upgrading specialist acquired by Air Liquide, providing amine and membrane-based biogas upgrading systems across Europe. It is a regional peer in Promethean's biogas upgrading segment and demonstrates incumbent competition in that vertical.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Promethean Particles social profiles
Digital presencePromethean Particles financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Promethean Particles leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Promethean Particles funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Promethean Particles M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Promethean Particles
What does Promethean Particles do?
Promethean Particles manufactures metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) at industrial scale and cost-effective price points using a proprietary, patented continuous-flow reactor process. It sells MOF products and complementary scale-up, feasibility, and performance testing services to industrial and research customers in carbon capture, biogas upgrading, atmospheric water harvesting, and gas storage and separation applications. The company's core differentiator is enabling the first commercially viable, industrially scalable MOF production from its continuous-flow manufacturing plant in Nottingham, UK.
Is Promethean Particles a public or private company?
Promethean Particles is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Promethean Particles founded?
Promethean Particles was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Promethean Particles based?
Promethean Particles is headquartered in Nottingham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Promethean Particles make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. MOF Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are MOF Synthesis Evaluation & Scale-Up Services.
Who are Promethean Particles's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Mosaic Materials (acquired by Baker Hughes) and NuMat Technologies. Broad incumbents are BASF and Linde plc. Emerging players are Svante, Carbon Clean and Climeworks. Carbotech (Air Liquide) is listed as a regional player.
Does Promethean Particles have an API?
No public API is recorded for Promethean Particles.
What industry is Promethean Particles in?
Promethean Particles's product category is Industrial Nanomaterials / Carbon Capture Materials. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAKAL, PCB & Electronics Manufacturing Chemicals (Desmear, micro-etch, plating, fluxes). Its NAICS code is 325180 and its SIC code is 2810.