HAOXiao-di,ZHUKai-yu,YUWen-bo,et al.Capacity and Ecological-economic Evaluations on Carbon Sink by Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement[J].China Water & Wastewater,2025,41(12):1-6.
Capacity and Ecological-economic Evaluations on Carbon Sink by Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement
China Water & Wastewater[ISSN:1000-4062/CN:12-1073/TU]
volume:
第41卷
Number:
第12期
Page:
1-6
Column:
Date of publication:
2025-06-17
- Keywords:
- ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE); ocean carbon sequestration/sink; alkaline substances; electrochemistry; economics; environmental impacts
- Abstract:
- Since the Industrial Revolution, the extensive emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2) from fossil fuel use, have caused a significant problem in climate change. The ocean, as the largest carbon sink site on Earth, is now experiencing ocean acidification due to excessive CO2 absorption. This has caused the pH of the surface ocean (≤100 m) to drop from 8.2 (the background level) to 8.1, and thus greatly reducing its carbon sequestration capacity. In response, some researchers have proposed ocean alkalinity enhancement to raise and potentially restore ocean pH, thus enhancing the ocean’s carbon sequestration capacity. In light of this idea, the feasibility of adding alkaline substances and employing electrochemical methods for ocean pH enhancement is assessed on chemical principles, process carbon emissions, economics, and ecological impacts. The assessment reveals that while adding alkaline substances can theoretically assist ocean CO2 absorption, the production and transportation processes must lead to extra carbon emissions, high costs, and substantial environmental impacts. The electrochemical approach has a more limited success in increasing ocean pH and thus supporting CO2 absorption, also associated with carbon emissions, economic cost, and environmental impacts. Therefore, while ocean alkalinity enhancement holds theoretical promise, it faces substantial practical challenges that hinder its implementation in reality.
Last Update:
2025-06-17