Capturing CO2 from Seawater: A Pilot Project to Clean the Air

The Secure Project: CO2 Removal from Seawater

• 💡 Scientists on England's south coast are piloting a project called Secure with the aim of combating climate change.
• 🎯 The core idea is to remove carbon dioxide from seawater so that the ocean can absorb more CO2 from the atmosphere.

Why Seawater for CO2 Extraction?

• 🧠 Professor Paul Halaran explains that seawater contains more carbon dioxide than air, making it a more sensible starting point for extraction.
• 🌊 Around a quarter of atmospheric CO2 is absorbed by the oceans, highlighting their role in the carbon cycle.

The Extraction Process

• 🧪 The Secure project involves acidifying seawater to convert dissolved carbon into a gas.
• ⚙️ This gas is then compressed, transported, and ultimately stored.
• 💧 Before being returned to the sea, the water is rebalanced using alkaline substances.
• 🌴 In a laboratory setting, CO2-enriched air passes over charred coconut husks, where the carbon dioxide sticks to the surface and is later released under a vacuum.

Current Scale and Future Hopes

• 📊 The pilot project currently removes approximately 100 tons of CO2 annually, comparable to a one-way transatlantic flight's emissions.
• 🚀 Researchers are hopeful that this method can become a significant part of broader CO2 removal strategies in the future.