Philosophical Vegan Forum

So apparently scientists in Iceland have found a way to inject Carbon Dioxide into the ground and form into stone. Now this is not an instant process but, about 2 years. An Iceland power plant that undertook this project has increased their amount of CO2 burying to 1000 tonnes per year. Unfortunately for every ton of CO2 buried it takes 25 tonnes of water.

In 2010 the total of CO2 was around 9.995 gigatonnes (9.995*10^9). So if we stopped making CO2 in 2010 and they continued with putting 1000 tons a year it would take them 9,995,000 years to complete. So it will be interesting if they can improve upon this process.

Do you think that this is a possible way to diminish the CO2? Or is this pointless unless everyone does this?

Sources:
https://www.co2.earth/global-co2-emissions
http://www.hngn.com/articles/200325/201 ... -stone.htm

(I may have done math wrong. Will double check in the morning)

I don't have nearly the scientific understanding required to make a good judgement on how useful this is, but it seems to me that the water cost is a big issue.

I think I can understand what they're doing; I'm guessing they're carbonating the water and then injecting it into the groundwater where it reacts with stone to form carbonates. This is probably fine for areas with a good supply of fresh water. I don't know what their energy costs are for carbonating the water in the first place though.

brimstoneSalad wrote:I think I can understand what they're doing; I'm guessing they're carbonating the water and then injecting it into the groundwater where it reacts with stone to form carbonates. This is probably fine for areas with a good supply of fresh water. I don't know what their energy costs are for carbonating the water in the first place though.

Is that the same process as carbonating water for drinking purposes? Could we theoretically drink that carbonated water or would it be toxic?

miniboes wrote: Is that the same process as carbonating water for drinking purposes? Could we theoretically drink that carbonated water or would it be toxic?

Probably. Depends on how they're doing it. If they're injecting the stream of exhaust straight into the water, I doubt you would want to drink it.

brimstoneSalad wrote:

miniboes wrote: Is that the same process as carbonating water for drinking purposes? Could we theoretically drink that carbonated water or would it be toxic?

Probably. Depends on how they're doing it. If they're injecting the stream of exhaust straight into the water, I doubt you would want to drink it.

The source is straight from the power plant.

brimstoneSalad wrote:I think I can understand what they're doing; I'm guessing they're carbonating the water and then injecting it into the groundwater where it reacts with stone to form carbonates. This is probably fine for areas with a good supply of fresh water. I don't know what their energy costs are for carbonating the water in the first place though.

Yes that is what they are doing. The CO2 combines with calcium, magnesium or iron in which produces carbonate.
(More detailed process)
"Waste carbon dioxide is first separated from steam and then dissolved in water, forming carbonic acid. The solution is then pumped 550 yards underground into a basalt formation, where the acidity leaches elements like calcium and magnesium from the surrounding rocks. Over time, the solution flows through the basalt formation and these elements recombine to form minerals like limestone." ~Scientific American
Couldn't find info on the power usage on delivering the water underground.
Found out it cost 17$ per ton of CO2

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/vol ... ast?tgt=nr
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/ene ... nto-stone/
http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... nto-stone/

_Doc wrote: Found out it cost 17$ per ton of CO2

How much power does it take to do it compared to the power generated?