There are several academic papers available online talking about ocean acid reduction. To get started, we wanted to ensure our equipment is able to successfully measure PH level, and that we are able to successfully reduce ocean acid using known compounds. Additionally, we wanted to determine if olivine (peridot) is able to reduce ocean-water acid in-water.

Experiment 1 – Calcium Carbonate

Experiment

Measure Acidity of Ocean water before and after Calcium Carbonate is added

Hypothesis

Adding Calcium Carbonate to ocean water will reduce acidity of ocean water

Procedure

1. Calibrate pH meter with tap water (Hoboken, NJ)
2. Gather Ocean water from Hudson river (Hoboken, NJ, Sinatra Park)
3. Measure Ocean water acidity 100ml
4. Add 1/2 tbs of CaCO3 to 100ml ocean water
5. Stir for 1 minute
6. Measure acidity of Ocean Water

Observations

• 5-29 2:03pm: Ocean water became milky in color, 1/2 tbs for 100ml was probably way too much. After stirring pH of ocean water rose and settled at 7.66
• 5-29 2:14pm: Letting pH meter sit in the solution for ~ 10 mins, the pH rises further to 7.70, going to let things sit for 1 hour and see what happens
• 5-29 2:33pm: 7.87 pH observed
• 6-3 11:38pm: 7.77 ph observed

Data

		Units
pH of tap water	7	pH
temp of tap water	21	C
temp of ocean water	21	C
pH of ocean water before CaCO3	7.43	pH
pH of ocean water after CaCO3 added 10 minutes	7.7	pH

Analysis and Conclusion

Adding CaCO3 to ocean water leads to reduction of measured acid in the ocean water solution

 

Experiment 2 – Peridot (Olivine)

Experiment

Measure Acidity of Ocean water before and after Olivine is added

Hypothesis

Adding Calcium Carbonate to ocean water will reduce acidity of ocean water

Procedure

1. Calibrate pH meter with tap water (Hoboken, NJ)
2. Gather Ocean water from Hudson river (Hoboken, NJ, Sinatra Park)
3. Measure Ocean water acidity 100ml
4. Add 1 tbs of Peridot gem to 100ml ocean water
5. Stir for 1 minute
6. Measure acidity of Ocean Water

Observations

• 5-29 2:29pm: Ocean water 7.55pH
• 5-29 2:30pm: Adding peridot to ocean water
• 5-29 2:31pm: After stirring 7.6pH
• 6-3 11:39pm: 7.70pH

Data

pH of tap water	7	pH
temp of tap water	21	C
temp of ocean water	21	C
pH of ocean water before CaCO3	7.51	pH
pH of ocean water after peridot added 10 minutes	7.7	pH

Analysis and Conclusion

Adding Olivine  to ocean water does not significantly impact measured acid in the ocean water after a day.

It is widely agreed that C02 levels in atmosphere impact global temperatures. The metric here is parts per million C02. This has historically been around 275 and based on a reading from my apartment in hoboken, we are at 402.

Reducing atmospheric C02 requires 2 steps.

1. Capturing the C02 out of the air (carbon capture)
2. Making sure the C02 stays out of the air (carbon sequestration)

Below are approaches to capturing and sequestering C02.

High concentration C02 Emission Capture at source

Electrostatic Separation (1)
Natural Gas to Fuel Cell  to Lime Kiln to create QuickLime (CaO) (1)
Alge C02 Capture (1, 2)

Atmospheric Capture and Sequestration

In-situ carbonation of peridot (1, 2, 3)
Ocean Ion Fertilization → Alge Capture (1, 2)
Direct Air Capture Solution Based (1)
Direct Air Capture Biochar (1)
Direct Air Capture Moss (1)

Ocean surface capture and de-acidification

Ground peridot dissolution (1, 2)
Seaweed and sea-plant capture (1)
Calcium carbonate powder dissolution (Project Celsius experiment)