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Carbon Dioxide Sequestration, Weathering Approaches to

  • R. D. SchuilingEmail author
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Abstract

The aim of enhanced weathering is to capture CO2 by the carbonation of silicates, or by dissolution of these silicates during which the greenhouse gas CO2 is converted to bicarbonate in solution. Research in this field is still focused on increasing the rate of reaction, but the required additional technologies add considerably to the cost of the process. In this entry, the focus is on the optimization of the weathering conditions, by selecting the most reactive abundantly available minerals, grinding them, and spreading the grains over land. Thereafter nature takes its course. Since its formulation in the late 1990s, more and more people realize that this simple and natural approach may well turn out to be one of the most promising and environmentally friendliest ways to counteract climate change and ocean acidification

Keywords

Tidal Flat Carbon Capture Ocean Acidification Flood Basalt Carbon Credit 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Glossary

CO2 capture

Any process whereby CO2 is sustainably removed from the atmosphere for a long period.

Dunite

Common rock type consisting for more than 90% of the mineral olivine.

Enhanced weathering

Any process whereby weathering reactions are sped up, like crushing the rock into fine particles and spreading these in suitable climates.

Laterite

Iron-rich tropical soil, which is the insoluble residue left after the weathering of the rock.

Mineral carbonation

The reaction of CO2 with minerals (particularly Mg or Ca silicates), leading to the formation of solid and stable carbonates. This carbonation is preceded by the transformation of CO2 gas to bicarbonate solutions.

Olivine

A silicate which is a mixed crystal of Mg2SiO4 and Fe2SiO4. It is the fastest weathering common silicate.

Weathering

The process whereby rocks are decomposed by reaction with water and acid (usually carbonic acid).

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Earth Sciences – GeochemistryInstitute of Geosciences, Utrcht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands

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