UP Catalyst, with a focus on both global sustainability and future space exploration, is transforming CO₂ into valuable materials for paints and coatings.
UP Catalyst has recently developed a cutting-edge method to turn carbon dioxide into valuable synthetic graphite and carbon nanomaterials – with transformative potential for the paints and coatings industry.
The breakthrough process, Molten Salt Carbon Capture and Electrochemical Transformation (MSCC-ET), was originally devised by NASA
to generate oxygen on space missions. Now, UP Catalyst’s scientists, working at the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics in Tallinn (Estonia) have adapted the technique for Earth-based use – thus transforming waste CO₂ into high-performance carbon products that are vital across numerous industries.
“Everyone sees CO2 as just a waste product, but our researchers were interested in finding potential uses for it. What we saw was that this so-called ‘waste’ could actually be turned into something quite valuable,” has stated Sebastian Pohlmann, CTO at UP Catalyst.
While applications in energy storage and electronics are well established, it’s in the paints and coatings sector that the technology could prove especially game-changing. Carbon nanomaterials produced by UP Catalyst can be dispersed into paints, coatings, and resins to deliver significant functional enhancements:
- Improved electrical conductivity, ideal for antistatic and electromagnetic shielding coatings.
- Greater mechanical strength, helping extend product lifespan and reduce material fatigue.
- Enhanced resistance to corrosion, fire, and extreme temperatures, vital for construction, aerospace, and marine applications.
- Lightweight yet durable formulations, opening the door to greener, more efficient infrastructure and vehicles.
“Typically, synthetic graphite is a very carbon intensive product, which is basically made from petroleum refinery residues. But because UP Catalyst is using CO2 emissions from biofuels, they are effectively taking CO2 out of circulation and permanently sequestrating its carbon, which is hugely beneficial, in terms of our climate objectives,” has commented Jonas Wolff, a senior advisor at the European Investment Bank.
These advanced coatings are in growing demand across Europe, particularly in sectors aiming to combine durability with sustainability. By offering locally produced, eco-friendly carbon additives, UP Catalyst could play a central role in reshaping the future of coatings manufacturing in Europe.
“Our process is what you would call deep tech. It’s not like software. It’s hardware, it is chemistry, and it takes a lot of money and steps to scale up. What we plan to do with the EIB loan is to build the first industrial scale pilot of our third- and fourth-generation technology. We’ve gone from producing grams in the lab to kilograms, but to serve the market we need to scale up to hundreds of kilograms per day,” has added Sebastian Pohlmann.
Beyond paints and coatings, the carbon nanomaterials also support:
- Energy devices – improving the efficiency of batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors, and solar cells.
- Water and air filtration – acting as membrane enhancers or direct filters for purification systems.
- Electronics – where carbon nanotubes and graphene show great promise in advanced devices like transistors.
Unlike most synthetic graphite on the market—typically made by heating petroleum by-products at high temperatures—UP Catalyst’s process uses biogas-derived CO₂ and renewable electricity, making it not just low-emission, but carbon negative. This clean-tech approach has caught the attention of the European Commission, which recently designated UP Catalyst’s graphite production initiative as one of 47 Strategic Projects for critical raw materials. The designation brings support from EU institutions, Member States, and financial bodies, along with fast-tracked permitting.