A system for processing recirculation air recovered from an aircraft cabin includes a mixing chamber and a carbon dioxide removal system. The carbon dioxide removal system has an inlet for recovered recirculation air from the aircraft cabin, an outlet to the mixing chamber; at least two assemblies of carbon dioxide sorbent that are thermally linked, a CO2 outlet valve; and a controller for managing desorption of carbon dioxide from the sorbent depending on aircraft status. The mixing chamber has an inlet from the carbon dioxide removal system, an inlet from an environmental control system, and an outlet connected to the aircraft cabin.