Title: Estimation of atmospheric CO2 amount reduction through a decarbonation method based on seawater electrolysis, aimed to create a global-scale CO2 capture strategy
Abstract:
It is well known that global warming is caused by an increase in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. The atmospheric CO2 concentration dramatically increased in the last 300 years, due to fossil fuels consumption and deforestation. From approximately 280 ppm before the start of the industrial revolution, about a 140 ppm upsurge was estimated. This phenomenon is understood to be responsible for a rise in global temperature, which will lead to glaciers melting and sea levels rising. Consequently, the research focused on atmospheric carbon capture and storage is fundamental for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement concerning climate change mitigation. A primary strategy to face these problems is to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, by introducing, as an example, electric engines and renewable energies. Nevertheless, another essential task is the sequestration of the existing CO2 excess in the atmosphere and its stable storage. From this point of view, for several years the most promising technique was the geological sequestration through injection and confinement of liquefied CO2 into selected deep underground rock formations (such as saline reservoirs and depleted oil/gas fields). However, the hazard of potential CO2 leakage is the main weak point related to this method. A more recent alternative was the geochemical sequestration, based on CO2 injection into minerals that may drive carbonation reactions, producing stable carbonate rocks and implying a negligible risk of return to the atmosphere. In our opinion, geochemical sequestration can be efficiently used and optimized by exploiting both seawater electrolysis and the oceans’ natural CO2 absorption feature. Consequently, in our presentation, we show an estimation of the atmospheric CO2 amount reduction achievable through a decarbonating method based on seawater electrolysis.
Biography:
Dr. Tatenuma Katsuyoshi has been managing Kaken Inc., a research and developmental company in the chemical field, in Mito Japan, for 40 years over. The favorite R&D fields of Dr. Tatenuma are mainly chemical analysis, nuclear medicine and its materials, and recently he is developing a new type of disinfectant and environmental purifier materials.
