The novel small molecule carbonic anhydrase (CA) mimic [Co<
sup>
III<
/sup>
(Salphen-COO<
sup>
-<
/sup>
)Cl]HNEt<
sub>
3<
/sub>
(<
b>
1<
/b>
), was synthesized as an additive for increasing CO<
sub>
2<
/sub>
absorption rates in amine-based post-combustion carbon capture processes (CCS), and its efficacy was verified. <
b>
1<
/b>
was designed for use in a kinetically slow but thermally stable blended solvent, containing the primary amines 1-amino-2-propanol (A2P) and 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP). Together, the A2P/AMP solvent and <
b>
1<
/b>
reduce the overall energy penalty associated with CO<
sub>
2<
/sub>
capture from coal-derived flue gas, relative to the baseline solvent MEA. <
b>
1<
/b>
is also effective at increasing absorption kinetics of kinetically fast solvents, such as MEA, which can reduce capital costs by requiring a smaller absorber tower. The transition from catalyst testing under idealized laboratory conditions, to process relevant lab- and bench-scale testing adds many additional variables that are not well understood and rarely discussed. As a result, the stepwise testing of both <
b>
1<
/b>
and the novel A2P/AMP solvent blend is described through a transition process that identifies many of these process and evaluation challenges not often addressed when designing a chemical or catalytic additive for industrial CCS systems, where consideration of solvent chemistry is typically the primary goal.