MTR Secures $27M to Scale Membrane Tech for Industrial Decarbonization

NEWARK, CA – April 09, 2026 – Membrane Technology & Research, Inc. (MTR), a veteran innovator in separation technologies, has secured a $27 million equity investment to accelerate the global deployment of its advanced membrane solutions. The funding round, led by specialist investor Climate Investment with participation from global commodities firm Hartree Partners, signals a significant push to commercialize technologies critical for industrial decarbonization and process efficiency.

In a concurrent strategic overhaul, MTR has appointed new leadership to navigate its next growth phase. John Gatlin, a seasoned executive with over 25 years in the energy sector, takes the helm as Chief Executive Officer. He is joined by Brett Andrews, who has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer to spearhead global sales and market expansion. The capital infusion, combined with this new executive direction, positions the California-based company to scale its commercially proven systems in the burgeoning carbon capture and industrial separation markets.

A Strategic Infusion for Climate Action

The investment arrives at a pivotal moment as heavy industries face mounting pressure to reduce emissions and comply with stringent environmental regulations. The investors bring more than just capital; they bring strategic alignment with the global energy transition. Lead investor Climate Investment, founded by member companies of the Oil & Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), is an independently managed firm focused exclusively on high-impact decarbonization technologies. Its portfolio of over 40 companies has collectively contributed to an estimated 133 million tonnes of CO₂e emissions reductions, underscoring a commitment to tangible environmental impact.

“MTR is a leader in membrane-based separations, with highly compelling applications across a range of industrial and energy markets,” stated Patrick Yip, Managing Director and Head of Growth Equity at Climate Investment. “We are pleased to support, alongside Hartree Partners, the next phase of MTR’s growth as its solutions are increasingly deployed to help industries achieve meaningful emissions reductions and meet decarbonization goals.”

The participation of Hartree Partners, a major merchant commodities firm with deep expertise in energy markets, further validates MTR's commercial potential. This dual backing from a climate-focused fund and a savvy energy trader highlights the dual appeal of MTR's technology: it is both an environmental solution and a tool for enhancing economic efficiency in industrial processes.

Proven Technology Ready for a Global Stage

With a 40-year history and over 450 commercial systems already deployed worldwide, MTR is not a nascent startup. The company's core strength lies in its proprietary Polaris® membrane platform, a technology that represents a significant leap forward in gas separation. For carbon capture applications, the Polaris® membrane demonstrates a CO2 permeance up to tenfold higher than conventional membranes. This superior efficiency drastically reduces the physical footprint and capital cost of capture systems, two of the most significant barriers to widespread adoption.

This technological advantage has been rigorously validated through a more than 15-year collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This partnership culminated in the design and operation of the world's largest membrane-based carbon capture system at the Dry Fork Station coal power plant in Wyoming. According to a DOE technical and economic analysis, MTR's advanced membranes have the potential to reduce the cost of carbon capture to approximately $57 per tonne of CO2, a crucial step toward making the technology economically viable for power plants and industrial facilities. This extensive field testing provides the commercial confidence needed for large-scale global deployment.

New Leadership to Drive Commercial Expansion

The appointment of John Gatlin as CEO is a clear signal of MTR's intent to aggressively commercialize its technology. Gatlin's career includes senior leadership roles at Flowco Holdings, Estis Compression, and NOV, where he gained extensive experience scaling operations and driving profitable growth in the energy services and equipment sectors. His background in petroleum engineering and finance provides a unique blend of technical understanding and commercial acumen.

“I’m delighted to join MTR at such an exciting time. With the backing of Climate Investment and Hartree Partners, we are well positioned to accelerate commercial deployment of our proven membrane technology platform,” said Gatlin. He emphasized that growth extends beyond the company's well-known carbon capture solutions. “In addition to our highly innovative approach to carbon capture, we see significant opportunity in expanding high-value applications such as BTX aromatics recovery and membrane-based acid gas enrichment for Claus plants.”

Supporting this vision is Brett Andrews, the new Chief Commercial Officer, who is tasked with translating MTR's technological leadership into market share. “With this investment, we are expanding our commercial reach and supporting customers with scalable, cost-effective solutions across a range of industrial applications,” Andrews added. “We are seeing strong demand for technologies that can be deployed today, and our membrane systems are well positioned to meet that need at scale.”

Beyond Carbon: Tapping High-Value Industrial Markets

While carbon capture often dominates headlines, MTR's technology offers powerful solutions for improving efficiency and reducing waste across the petrochemical, natural gas, and refining industries. The company's Industrial Separations division is targeting lucrative and technically challenging applications where its membranes provide a distinct advantage. One such area is the recovery of BTX aromatics (benzene, toluene, and xylene), which are foundational building blocks for countless chemical products. Efficiently separating these valuable compounds from process streams can significantly improve a plant's profitability and resource utilization.

Another key target is acid gas enrichment for Claus plants, which are essential for removing toxic hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from natural gas and refinery streams. These plants operate most efficiently with a high concentration of H2S in their feed gas. MTR's membranes can selectively remove excess carbon dioxide, enriching the H2S concentration and thereby boosting the plant's sulfur recovery efficiency, reducing emissions, and debottlenecking operations.

This strategic diversification demonstrates that MTR's value proposition is not solely dependent on carbon pricing or climate mandates. By providing cost-effective solutions for core industrial processes, the company has built a resilient business model poised for growth across multiple sectors. As industries globally navigate the twin challenges of decarbonization and economic competitiveness, advanced separation technologies like those pioneered by MTR are becoming less of a niche solution and more of a fundamental necessity.