Squeeze a little lime into seawater to cut carbon: scientists [View All]

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.discoverychannel.ca/reports/article.aspx?aid=9864

Squeeze a little lime into seawater to cut carbon: scientists

7/21/2008 12:42:00 PM - Aileen O'Dowd

Scientists have found a feasible way to reverse levels of CO2 in the atmosphere - potentially even turning back the environmental clock to pre-industrial times.

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The addition of lime - extracted from limestone - to seawater increases the sea's ability to suck up extra amounts of carbon from the air, and also reduces its likelihood of releasing it back again.

Through a process called calcination, the limestone (calcium carbonate) is thermally decomposed into lime (calcium oxide).

In addition, explains Gilles Bertherin from Shell, a coordinator on the project, putting calcium hydroxide into the sea increases alkalinity, and lessens the negative effects of ocean acidification -- hugely benefiting the marine environment.

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