Turning CO2 into Rock In Fight Against Climate Change

Scientists from Iceland are turning CO2 into a rock by mimicking a natural process at an accelerated rate.

Increased levels of atmospheric CO2 is the major reason for global warming and climate change.
Naturally atmospheric CO2 entering the soil mineralizes to become carbonate.
But, the process takes thousands of years.
Now, scientists from Iceland, in an ambitious project called CarbFix were able to get the mineralized form of atmospheric CO2.
Using technology, they were able to accelerate the natural process of carbonate formation.
This has the potential to clean the air of CO2 and thereby reducing global warming.

Scientists used Iceland’s Hellisheidi geothermal power plant for the project.
Located on the Hengill Volcano, the power plant lies above basalt rock which has many pores.
Also, the area is abundant with water which is used to run the turbines of the plant.
CO2 from the plant is captured by steam, it is then turned into a condensate and dissolved in large amounts of water.
This is effectively turning the water into soda. It is then pumped under high pressure into the porous rocks 1000 metres deep.
The water then solidifies when it comes in contact with calcium, iron, and magnesium in the basalt rocks.
Scientists say that almost all of the water pumped turned into carbonate rock within two years.
CarbFix is essentially a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

CCS technology captures CO2 emissions from power generating plants and other industrial activities.
It has three major components – Capturing CO2, Transporting CO2 and Storing CO2 (in deep underground structures or aquifers or caverns).

The project is ambitious in its scope and the results are promising.
With the world facing an existential crisis due to rising temperatures and climate change, projects such as this give hope that humanity can reverse climate change.
Adapting such technologies on a large scale is the need of the hour.
But, feasibility is the big question.