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CO2 Fixation

The Greensols process (defined here as Geo-Mimicry) is designed to mimic naturally occurring spontaneous crystallisation events in seawater.  These events are defined as "Whitings" (Figure 1).

99% of "Whitings" are induced by micro-biological factors; e.g. Algae & Bacteria.

However, 1% of "Whitings", the control of calcium carbonate precipitation from seawater is entirely inorganic.  The Greensols Process replicates this inorganic process.

It is well known (IPCC reports 2005 – 2007) that the oceans are a major sink of atmospheric CO2.

However, with the exception of whitings, there are considerable barriers preventing the rapid uptake of CO2 by seawater.  The Greensols Process involves the breakdown of these barriers so that a one-way exchange from the atmosphere is almost instantaneous.

Figure 1 - Whitings

CO2 Fixation Model

Seawater is naturally supersaturated with respect to calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate, and when induced the precipitation of the carbonate material (e.g. Calcium/Magnesium Carbonate) depletes the oceanic water of carbonate and calcium/magnesium ions.

The seawater system then attempts to regain its usual metastable state by absorbing atmospheric CO₂ through its surface layers.

This causes breakdown of the calcium/magnesium ion complexes in the seawater solution in an attempt to regain its total free calcium/magnesium ion concentration.

The amount of atmospheric CO₂ drawn back into the seawater is directly measurable and auditable by the amount of carbonate material produced.

In the precipitation process (Figure 2) the composition of the seawater inlet stream is minimally altered and consequently may be returned to the marine environment without further treatment and with no environmental impact.  The exit stream is well within the ambient range experienced in in-shore marine environments in the seasonally arid tropics.  Controlled, selective, precipitation is specifically targeted to the production of a range of divalent carbonates, particularly Calcium carbonate or Magnesium carbonate.

The process permanently fixes large volumes of atmospheric, and/or industrial, carbon dioxide in a stable, low solubility, mineral form.

Test results to date, combined with the flow rates envisaged and modelled, sequestration of 25,000,000 tonnes of CO₂ and 47,000,000 tonnes of calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate per plant per annum, is conservatively viable.

Figure 2 - Stand Alone Plant

Plant Model (Point Source Fixation)

Greensols technology may provide the means for any major energy producing/emitting company to become CO₂ neutral without the need to alter its operations (Figure 3).

Greensols Technology may be seen to be critical to any major energy producing/emitting company throughout the world, either as a stand-alone CO₂ fixation plant, or as a major carbonate production plant with complementary CO₂ fixation benefits.