Seawater as a Resource
Sustainable CO₂ -Sources
Seawater contains a natural concentration of CO₂ that is approximately 140 times higher than that of the atmosphere.
By extracting CO₂ from seawater, the CO₂ content in the water is reduced. Since CO₂ is in equilibrium between the atmosphere and the sea, this process can promote the CO₂ exchange between the ocean and the atmosphere. This potentially leads to a decrease in atmospheric CO₂ concentration, thereby contributing to the mitigation of global warming.
Aspects in addition:
Avoiding land use
In contrast to terrestrial methods of CO₂ extraction, such as biomass production, extracting CO₂ from seawater does not require large land areas, minimizing the impact on the environment and biodiversity.
Potential to promote Marine Health
Excessive CO₂ concentrations in the ocean lead to ocean acidification, which is harmful to marine biodiversity, particularly to coral reefs and shellfish. By reducing the CO₂ content in seawater, this process could also help mitigate ocean acidification, thereby protecting the marine ecosystem.