Carbon Capture Solvents, Sorbents, and Membranes - Market Share Analysis, Industry Trends & Statistics, Growth Forecasts (2026-2031)

The carbon capture solvents, sorbents, and membranes market size is estimated at USD 4.86 billion in 2025 and is estimated to grow from USD 5.41 billion in 2026 to USD 10.04 billion by 2031, at a CAGR of 13.16% during the forecast period (2026-2031). This report is Segmented by Material Type (Solvents and More), Solvent Type (Ionic Liquids and More), Sorbent Type (Zeolites and More), Membrane Type (Polymeric Membranes and More), Capture Route (Direct Air Capture and More), End-User Industry (Cement and More), and Geography (Asia-Pacific, North America, and More). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Global Carbon Capture Solvents, Sorbents, and Membranes Market Trends and Insights

Industrial Decarbonization Mandates and Carbon Pricing

Carbon pricing is making capture materials a direct procurement decision for heavy emitters. The planned withdrawal of free allowances for steel, cement, and aluminum through 2034 will increase cost exposure for facilities that do not reduce emissions. The US 45Q framework preserves a credit of USD 85 per metric ton for industrial point-source capture and USD 180 per metric ton for direct air capture. It also aligns the treatment of carbon dioxide sequestration and enhanced oil recovery, expanding the range of viable projects for solvent suppliers. These changes support demand in the carbon capture solvents, sorbents, and membranes market, where compliance costs and investment decisions are becoming increasingly connected.

Expansion of Carbon Capture Project Pipelines

More than 42 capture projects began operations in 2025, increasing global annual carbon capture and storage capacity by 25% and supporting the carbon capture solvents, sorbents, and membranes market. More than 650 announced projects target operations between 2026 and 2030, creating a multiyear procurement pipeline for capture equipment and materials. The global project count remains below the capacity required under the International Energy Agency's net-zero pathway, leaving unmet deployment needs. Northern Lights Phase 2 reached a final investment decision in March 2025 and aims to expand offshore Norwegian storage capacity to 5 Mt per year by 2028. This type of transport and storage project gives industrial facilities a clearer route for handling captured carbon dioxide. The carbon capture solvents, sorbents, and membranes market benefits because project developers must select materials early in process design and often contract supply before facilities enter service.

Solvent Regeneration Energy Penalty

The energy requirement for thermal solvent regeneration remains a project consideration in the carbon capture solvents, sorbents, and membranes market. Many industrial sites lack sufficient low-grade heat in the 100°C to 140°C range required for thermal stripping. At typical monoethanolamine concentrations, the energy requirement can reduce host power plant output by 20% to 30%. A 2025 study reported a membraneless, electrochemically mediated amine regeneration system that achieved carbon dioxide removal above 90% with energy consumption as low as 60 kJ per mol of CO₂. Heat-pump integration offers another partial solution. A demonstration at Amager Bakke reported that heat-pump integration covered 78.3% of the heat demand for capture. Until these options become broadly commercial, adoption in the carbon capture solvents, sorbents, and membranes market may remain slower at sites with limited heat-integration options.

Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:

• Demand for Lower-Regeneration-Energy Materials
• Retrofit Demand from Cement, Steel, and Refining Assets
• High First-of-a-Kind Installation Costs

Segment Analysis

Solvents held 42.34% of the carbon capture solvents, sorbents, and membranes market size in 2025. Their position reflects extensive operating experience with liquid amine absorption across power generation and oil and gas processing. Established supply chains and well-understood maintenance practices reduce execution risk for developers. Solid sorbents are projected to expand at a CAGR of 15.34% through 2031, the highest growth rate among material types. Svante opened a USD 150 million solid-sorbent filter factory in British Columbia in May 2025, with capacity intended to support up to 10 Mt of carbon dioxide capture per year. The facility indicates that structured sorbent production has moved beyond pilot-scale supply. Larger output can also improve purchasing predictability for developers who require filter replacements over long operating periods. It gives project sponsors more certainty that advanced sorbents can be sourced in quantities suitable for large industrial facilities.

Solvents remain effective for low carbon dioxide concentrations, particularly below 5% in natural gas power plant exhaust. Sorbents and membranes compete more strongly where gas streams contain 12% to 15% carbon dioxide, including cement, steel, and ethanol applications. This difference shows that the material categories are not directly interchangeable. New hard-to-abate projects favor materials that match higher-concentration industrial streams and site-specific heat conditions. Membranes and other materials account for the remaining position within the carbon capture solvents, sorbents, and membranes industry. Their use is increasing as smaller, modular applications move toward the 10,000-ton-per-year range. Supplier strategies, therefore, center on the chemical profile of the gas stream and the operating conditions at each site. A site with constrained steam supply may prioritize sorbents or membranes even where liquid solvents are familiar. Conversely, existing amine-based infrastructure can make solvent upgrades more practical than a complete technology change.

Amine-based solvents held 70.21% of the solvent type segment in 2025. This share reflects their commercial maturity and the installed absorber and stripper base designed around their operating characteristics. Amine systems also benefit from well-developed maintenance practices and recognized regulatory pathways. CESAR1, a blend of 3 M 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) and 1.5 M piperazine, reported reboiler duties of 3.0 to 3.5 MJ per kg of CO₂, compared with 3.5 to 4.2 MJ per kg for conventional monoethanolamine systems. Physical solvents serve high-pressure pre-combustion and natural gas streams, where thermal regeneration requirements are lower. Their role is focused because they fit a defined set of feed conditions. This distinction matters because suppliers cannot assume that lower regeneration duty will outweigh operating familiarity at every facility. Developers typically compare total integration costs, solvent handling requirements, and the expected life of the host asset.

Ionic liquids are forecast to grow at a CAGR of 14.23% through 2031. Their negligible vapor pressure, thermal stability, and adjustable affinity for carbon dioxide make them relevant for lower-energy capture designs. A 2025 peer-reviewed study found that water-lean ionic liquid absorbents reduced regeneration energy by 20% to 50% against the monoethanolamine baseline. High viscosity still affects mass transfer and pumping efficiency at larger scales. Encapsulation and supported ionic-liquid membrane designs aim to address this limitation. Carbonate-alkaline and deep eutectic solvents are also being considered for higher-temperature streams where conventional amines can degrade. Their importance lies in giving operators alternatives when flue gas contaminants or temperature profiles shorten conventional solvent life. The selection process remains site-specific because a favorable laboratory property does not eliminate the need for pumping, corrosion control, or maintenance.

Complete Report Scope:

• By Material Type
  • Solvents
  • Solid Sorbents
  • Membranes
  • Others
• By Solvent Type
  • Amine-Based Solvents
  • Physical Solvents
  • Ionic Liquids
  • Others (Carbonate and Alkaline Solvents, Deep Eutectic Solvents)
• By Sorbent Type
  • Activated Carbon
  • Zeolites
  • Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
  • Others (Amine-Functionalized Silica, Metal Oxides, Activated Alumina)
• By Membrane Type
  • Polymeric Membranes
  • Mixed-Matrix Membranes
  • Ceramic Membranes
  • Others (Facilitated-Transport Membranes, Hollow-Fiber Membranes)
• By Capture Route
  • Post-Combustion Capture
  • Pre-Combustion Capture
  • Direct Air Capture
  • Others (Oxy-Fuel Combustion, Industrial Process Capture)
• By End-User Industry
  • Power Generation
  • Oil and Gas
  • Cement
  • Others (Iron and Steel, Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Hydrogen and Ammonia, Waste-to-Energy)
• By Geography
  • Asia-Pacific
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • South Korea
    • ASEAN Countries
    • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  • North America
    • United States
    • Canada
    • Mexico
  • Europe
    • Germany
    • United Kingdom
    • France
    • Italy
    • NORDIC Countries
    • Rest of Europe
  • South America
    • Brazil
    • Argentina
    • Rest of South America
  • Middle-East and Africa
    • Saudi Arabia
    • South Africa
    • Rest of Middle-East and Africa

Geography Analysis

North America accounted for 36.34% of the carbon capture solvents, sorbents, and membranes market in 2025. The region combines a large base of industrial emitters with a developed policy framework for carbon capture. The US 45Q framework supports projects for industrial point sources and direct air capture. US capture capacity was projected to increase from 22 million tons per year in 2024 to 176 million tons per year by 2030. Svante's British Columbia factory also strengthens the regional supply of solid sorbents. Canada supports growth through carbon credit structures and Alberta sequestration hubs. Mexico presents an emerging opportunity in refining and petrochemicals. The scale of the regional opportunity depends on access to storage, permitting progress, and individual sites' ability to secure tax-credit eligibility. These factors make North America a major demand center, although project-level differences in material selection are expected to remain.

Asia-Pacific is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 14.94% through 2031. Japan plans to expand carbon capture, utilization, and storage capacity from 0.3 million tons per year to nearly 12.5 million tons per year by 2035, with many projects relying on cross-border storage arrangements. China is a major contributor to carbon capture research and is moving toward procurement-scale projects through amine capture and oxy-combustion facilities. India, South Korea, and ASEAN countries are building policy foundations for future deployment. South Korea and Singapore have shown comparatively stronger policy readiness. The region's large industrial base supports a broad long-term opportunity for materials that align with local fuel and feedstock conditions. Cross-border storage plans may increase the need for consistent carbon dioxide specifications before transport and injection. This requirement increases the importance of capture systems that can deliver predictable purity and high removal rates.

Europe's carbon price signals and storage infrastructure continue to support demand for capture materials. EU Emissions Trading System prices averaged EUR 73.43 per ton CO₂ in 2025, while verified emissions declined by 1.3% year over year. The European Commission identified solvents, compressors, and column vessels as supply chain gaps for achieving the 50 million tons per year storage target by 2030. The Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom provide key cluster and storage projects. South America, the Middle-East, and Africa remain smaller markets with distinct opportunities. Brazil and Argentina offer high-concentration ethanol and biofuel sources, while the Middle-East has oil and gas-linked capture projects. These geographies require further expansion of transport and storage infrastructure before demand can scale. Their projects may prioritize high-concentration sources first, as these sources generally offer more manageable capture economics. Material providers that support early ethanol, biofuel, oil, and gas applications may establish a market position before larger infrastructure networks are completed.

List of Companies Covered in this Report:

• Air Liquide
• Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
• BASF
• Carbon Clean
• Climeworks
• Dow
• Exxon Mobil Corporation
• Fluor Corporation
• Honeywell International Inc
• Linde PLC
• Membrane Technology and Research, Inc. (MTR)
• MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
• Shell plc
• Siemens Energy
• Svante Technologies Inc.
• TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
• TOSHIBA CORPORATION

Additional Benefits:

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support