University of Chicago develops zinc-based methane capture materials

New metal-organic frameworks could cut industrial methane leaks by $10 billion annually

University of Chicago researchers created two zinc-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) named UCHI-1 and UCHI-2 through machine-learning-guided design. These materials enable methane-nitrogen separation—critical for capturing leaking methane—using zinc instead of costlier nickel or copper. Published in the *Journal of the American Chemical Society* in 2026, the work demonstrates performance exceeding existing literature values while targeting industrial-scale applications. The materials represent a proof of concept for reducing methane emissions, which cause 80 times more climate damage than CO2 over 20 years.

The approach leverages end-to-end machine learning to optimize gas adsorption, lowering material costs without sacrificing separation efficiency. By using zinc—a cheaper metal—this method addresses a key barrier to deploying methane capture systems widely. The research directly targets the $10 billion annual industry loss from methane leaks in distribution systems, a figure specific to methane distribution infrastructure.

This advancement moves climate stability toward resource security by making methane capture more feasible at scale. Cheaper, deployable materials could reduce emissions from leaks that undermine global food and water systems. However, UCHI-1 and UCHI-2 are not yet optimized for full industrial deployment. The team aims to improve performance beyond current state-of-the-art while maintaining the zinc cost advantage. What matters next is whether these materials can scale without compromising the $10 billion leakage reduction target.

Source: Phys.org