Cambridge Future Tech integral to establishing PeroCycle’s carbon recycling in Cambridge

Cambridge Future Tech is partnering with the University of Birmingham and Anglo American in a new venture aimed at developing and commercialising carbon recycling technology for implementation in steelmaking.

PeroCycle, which was incorporated in December 2024, will build on innovations made at the University of Birmingham’s School of Chemical Engineering by Professor Yulong Ding and Dr Harriet Kildahl, who pioneered an in-process carbon recycling method with the use of a double perovskite material.

Professor Yulong Ding, founding chamberlain chair of chemical engineering at the University of Birmingham, said: “The steel sector currently accounts for around eight per cent of global carbon emissions. We are excited to work with Anglo American and Cambridge Future Tech to commercialise our novel technology and provide a potential alternative technical solution to enable a deep decarbonisation of the steel sector, and beyond.”

The use of the material enables the in-process splitting of carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide at considerably lower temperatures than current methods. The carbon monoxide could then be recycled in a closed loop as a substitute for coal or coke currently used in the steelmaking process, in turn significantly reducing the volume of carbon dioxide emissions.

The closed loop process involves the carbon dioxide (CO2) produced during the steelmaking process being converted to carbon monoxide (CO) and reused within the same process. The CO2 is not emitted, it’s reused.

“The novelty here,” explains a Cambridge Future Tech spokesperson, “is that this removes carbon emissions from steel production and simultaneously allows the carbon inputs – traditionally coke and coal – to be substituted with renewable CO.

“Thus PeroCycle minimises carbon emissions and reduces the need for costly, non-renewable inputs like coke and coal.”

A spokesperson continued: “PeroCycle will be based in Cambridge for the foreseeable future in terms of commercial team and governance, but the R&D will stay in Birmingham until the pre-pilot phase. Part of Cambridge Future Tech’s role as a hands-on venture builder will be to build up a full leadership team.”

Matt Walker, CEO of Anglo American Marketing, said: “Anglo American has long sought to help decarbonise the steelmaking sector – from providing our premium iron ore to global steelmakers, to investing in our Ubuntu fleet of LNG dual-fuelled bulk ore carriers.

“This new investment to commercialise a novel carbon recycling approach aligns with our ambition to reduce our Scope 3 emissions and help catalyse a lower carbon steelmaking industry through the power of innovation and partnership.”

Owen Thompson, CEO, Cambridge Future Tech, said: “Partnering with Anglo American and the University of Birmingham on PeroCycle is a significant milestone for Cambridge Future Tech. This collaboration unites Anglo American’s industry leadership and Birmingham’s world-class research to address one of the most critical challenges in steelmaking.

“By enabling carbon recycling within existing processes, PeroCycle offers a transformative pathway to decarbonising steel without the need for complete reengineering.

“We are proud to help advance this innovative solution towards commercial reality.”