Air Liquide launches Cryocap FG pilot for cement CO₂ capture

Key highlights
  • Cryocap™ FG pilot installed at Holcim’s CaptureLab in France.
  • Unit processes 3,000 Nm³/h of flue gas to remove impurities and preconcentrate CO₂ before final purification.
  • Modular design enables transport and relocation to other industrial sites after initial testing.
  • Builds on Air Liquide’s Port‑Jérôme experience with Cryocap™ H₂ and targets follow‑on cement and lime projects.

Pilot overview

Air Liquide has commissioned its first industrial‑scale pilot unit specifically designed for the cement sector, based on its Cryocap™ proprietary technology. The pilot is installed at Holcim’s CaptureLab in France.

Technical scope

The Cryocap™ FG (Flue Gas) unit treats 3,000 Nm³/h of flue gas and integrates pre‑treatment steps to remove impurities and preconcentrate CO₂ prior to final purification. That preconcentration is presented as an essential step for reliable, large‑scale carbon capture in cement plants.

Design and deployment

The pilot is modular for easy transport and installation, allowing relocation to other industrial sites after its initial phase at CaptureLab. Air Liquide frames the scale‑up validated by this unit as a milestone for rolling out Cryocap™ technology across the cement industry.

Context and background

The cement sector’s CO₂ footprint is driven largely by limestone calcination rather than energy use, which complicates decarbonization. The new pilot builds on a decade of Air Liquide experience at Port‑Jérôme with Cryocap™ H₂ and is positioned to support upcoming cement and lime projects.

Source: Air Liquide