Energy, manufacturing and deployment costs are critical to the viability of any carbon dioxide removal approach

The University of California San Diego (UCSD) Scripps Institution of Oceanography was awarded a $875,891 Cooperative Agreement from the Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Ocean Acidification Program (CFDA 11.017). The 3-year project focuses on developing and testing a low-cost, low-energy system to capture atmospheric CO2 and convert it into alkaline salts for ocean alkalinity enhancement. The research team will construct a pilot system, conduct laboratory studies on optimal conditions for adding alkaline substances to seawater, and assess the economic and environmental impacts of this carbon dioxide removal approach. This work aims to advance cost-effective strategies for mitigating ocean acidification effects.

This research project focuses on a new strategy that promises low energy burden and low manufacturing costs to achieve ocean alkalinity enhancement. The research team has four main objectives to test this system and related impacts. First, researchers will develop and test a pilot-scale system that captures carbon dioxide from the air and converts IT into a mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate. These byproduct salts can be used for marine carbon dioxide removal offering advantages over other mineral-based approaches. Second, laboratory studies will investigate the chemical constraints of adding various alkaline substances to seawater. They will examine the precipitation of calcium carbonate and brucite from seawater and determine the optimal rate for adding alkaline salts to ensure dissolution without unwanted precipitation. Third, the researchers will synthesi