Lime to Reduce Oceanic Acidity and CO2 Emissions

Adding lime to the world’s oceans may halt the effects of climate change, and possibly reverse them, proposals unveiled at a UK climate change conference suggest.  The same method – according to its backers – could bring rising ocean acidity back down to normal levels. 

The lime-to-the-seas venture is being proposed by Tim Kruger, who has referred to it as “...an idea that can not only stop the clock on carbon dioxide, it can turn it back.”

The oceans currently absorb approximately 50 per cent of manmade carbon dioxide emissions.  This obviously limits the amount of CO2 that can enter the atmosphere, but the presence of the carbon in the seas makes the water more acidic, as well as posing a risk to marine life.

Carbon Sequestration Method

Kruger’s project is titled ‘Cquestrate’, and aims to bolster the oceans’ natural CO2 absorption qualities, while simultaneously reducing acidity.  His projected carbon sequestration method involves limestone-to-lime conversion (a process associated with cement production), and introduction of this lime to the oceans.  The lime’s reaction with seawater would produce bicarbonate ions, as a result of which the water would become more alkaline, higher levels of airborne CO2 would be taken in and the effects of climate change would be mitigated.  At least, that’s the plan.

“It's essential that we reduce our emissions, but that may not be enough”, Kruger stated, in comments made to the Guardian publication.  “We need a plan B to actually reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.  We need to research such concepts now – not just the science but also the legal, ethical and governance considerations.”

His plan featured among no less than 20 put forward at the Manchester Report – an industry summit meeting where advocates of new methods to combat climate change could unveil their plans.  A number of experts will assess these, and slim them down to the 10 best.

Acid Oceans

Kruger conceded that his acid oceans reduction venture posed a number of potential complications, such as the sheer amount of lime that would be needed (approximately 10 cubic kilometres per annum, to keep up with the pace of climate change).

Chris Goodall – who is on the expert panel selecting the top 10 new proposals to tackle climate change – described Kruger’s lime proposal as theoretically promising, but added that additional research was necessary to solidify its viability.  “The basic concept looks good, though further research is needed into the feasibility”, he said.