In an interview with Xpress, Julian Krischel, head of research for direct air capture, talks about the final step: bringing the new formula from the lab into production. Only if the new Lewatit® for CO2 filtration is scalable will a new, large market open up for LANXESS in the future.

Darting into the lab between two appointments with the plant managers, discussing the latest customer feedback or checking current measurements – for Julian Krischel, Head of Innovative Product Development in the LPT business unit, this has been part of his daily routine for around a year. He is working intensively with a small team to help the newly developed Lewatit® achieve a breakthrough: The goal is for it to extract CO2 from the outside air – permanently, efficiently and scalably. His office in the historic Q18 building at Chempark Leverkusen and the laboratory space available to his team are only a few meters apart. “That way, I can stay close to the action—even when my calendar is full,” he says.

He considers it a great privilege that the three researchers can focus entirely on a single topic—and a great responsibility to use the resources provided wisely. “Of course, we feel an obligation to deliver results as quickly as possible,” he says. “Fortunately, we have been very successful so far – thanks to the great support we receive from marketing, operations, our AI experts, and also from BU management.” New samples of Lewatit® Aeropure have just arrived from the plant – always a moment of excitement and anticipation for the team.

Mr. Krischel, how is the scaling of the new Lewatit® going in production?

Julian Krischel: The first operational trials are currently taking place. Of course, we always had the conditions in production in mind during development, but the so-called “upscaling” brings with it its own unique challenges. Instead of the three-liter kettles we have been using here in the laboratory, the process now has to be transferred to production plants with a capacity of more than ten cubic meters. The initial results are promising, so we are confident that everything is going according to plan.

The new technology is still in its infancy. How big is its market potential?

Enormous. Political conditions, such as CO2 certificate trading, are driving demand for new climate technologies. We see a future market—especially in direct air capture plants—that is just emerging. And we want to be involved in shaping it from the very beginning. Our more than 80 years of experience with ion exchangers is, of course, a real advantage – we already have a wealth of expertise from more than 170 products that we can draw on. Our products are considered the benchmark in many markets – that opens doors.

How important is cooperation with our customers?

It is central – and the starting point for every new development. This is because every system works a little differently from a technical standpoint or has its own unique requirements due to its location and the associated external conditions such as temperature or humidity. Absorption capacity, durability, speed—we work with our customers to define all parameters down to the smallest detail and then have our product extensively tested on the customer's side. Our goal: to develop a flexible base material that can be adapted to different application scenarios with minimal effort.

When you delve so deeply into a topic for so long, what drives you personally?

The opportunity to make a real difference with research. Our technology makes it possible to permanently remove CO2 from the air—a major lever for a better climate. The product itself is also sustainable: although it has to be regenerated in appropriate cycles, our ion exchangers remain effective over a very long period of time. Clean air and clean water cannot be taken for granted—they are essential to our quality of life. Contributing to this is simply a great feeling.