Canadian scientists from McMaster University and the University of Toronto have proposed a way to solve the global problem associated with ocean acidification. As the oceans absorb more carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, acid levels in the water are increasing. The study was published in the scientific journal broadcasting Speech.
The dissolution of minerals from shoreline rocks offsets the increase in acid levels through a process called geological weathering. However, the increase in the rate and volume of CO2 emissions over the last 60 years has greatly exceeded the rate of geological weathering. As a result, the acidity of the oceans increased by 30%. More acidic seawater affects millions of species and entire ecosystems, including coral reefs.
Scientists have proposed using a process called increasing the alkalinity of the oceans.
The most obvious approach would be to add alkaline materials to the water to neutralize the acid. But this would require an enormous amount of raw materials – 2.4 billion tonnes per year.
An alternative may be the biochemical method of bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BMED), which involves pumping water through special filters.
Researchers say they have begun developing ultrathin membranes that will make the process scalable and cost-effective. BMED will also need electricity, which the team proposes to generate using renewable energy sources.
Previous scientists warned It’s about record warming and ocean acidification near Bermuda.