A sorbent canister heat exchanger is provided which can be used for removal of carbon dioxide from recirculated air in space crafts and submarines. The sorbent canister heat exchanger includes a frame (20) defining a volumetric body (21) with substantially flat upper (26) and lower (27) sides, heat exchange elements (40) disposed within an interior (210) of the body (21), sorbent material (60) disposed among the heat exchange elements (40) within the interior (210) of the body (21), retainer screens (61) disposed at upper (26) and lower (27) sides of the heat exchange elements (40) and sorbent material (60) and structural foam layers (62) supportively disposed between the retainer screens (61) and the substantially flat upper (26) and lower (27) sides to absorb loading applied to the retainer screens (61).
