Japan’s First Demonstration Test of CO₂ Separation and Capture from Flue Gas at Waste to energy (WtE) Plant Using MOF
—Toward Practical Application of Next-Generation CO₂ Separation and Capture—

Sep. 03, 2026

JFE Engineering Corporation

JFE Engineering Corporation (President and CEO: Kazuyoshi Fukuda; Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) will commence a demonstration test of a process to separate and capture CO₂ from flue gas at a waste to energy（WtE） Plant using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).
This is Japan’s first^*1 attempt to capture CO₂ from actual flue gas at a waste to energy（WtE）Plant using MOFs.

Since fiscal 2021, the Company has been jointly developing a proprietary CO₂ separation and capture process using MOFs with Distinguished Professor Susumu Kitagawa of Kyoto University. Based on findings from basic tests using simulated flue gas obtained through the joint research to date, the Company will conduct a CO₂ capture demonstration test using actual flue gas at Clean Plaza Fujimi^*2, a waste to energy（WtE）Plant designed and constructed by the Company, aiming to complete the test by the end of fiscal 2026.

The MOF identified through the joint research can simultaneously adsorb and desorb CO₂ and water. Leveraging this characteristic, the Company aims to establish a proprietary process that efficiently separates and captures CO₂ with low energy consumption, even from moisture-containing flue gas at waste to energy（WtE）Plants, which has a low CO₂ concentration of approximately 10%.
In this process, the MOF is packed into an adsorption tower, where it adsorbs CO₂ and water directly from the flue gas without dehumidification. Since desorption requires no heating—only pressure reduction using a vacuum pump—the process is expected to reduce energy consumption and simplify equipment compared with conventional methods such as chemical absorption.
The demonstration test will be conducted at a CO₂ capture rate of several kilograms per day to verify the process’s performance.
Based on the results of the demonstration test, the Company will consider applying the process to small- and medium-scale CO₂ emission sources, including waste to energy（WtE）Plants. The Company will continue to combine the expertise it has cultivated through the design, construction, and operation of waste to energy（WtE）Plants with its CO₂ separation and capture technologies to help realize a carbon-neutral society.

Comparison with Conventional Processes

　

		Conventional Process		Process under Development
		Chemical absorption	Adsorption method
Adsorbent		Amine solution	Zeolite	ＭＯＦ
Flue gaspretreatment		Not required	Dehumidification required	Not required
Heating during desorption		Required	Not required	Not required

Process Flow Diagram of MOF Adsorption

　

MOF identified through the joint research

　　

Waste Energy Plant (Clean Plaza Fujimi)

　　

 

For inquiries regarding this press release, please contact:

• Public Relations Section, General Administration Department, JFE Engineering Corporation

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