Method of Producing a Solid Metal Carbonate Hydrate

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This invention provides a method for producing solid metal carbonate hydrates (such as ikaite) by contacting carbon dioxide, water, and a metal carbonate (e.g., calcium carbonate) to form an aqueous mixture, then applying a vacuum at a low temperature to precipitate the hydrate. The resulting solid can be stored and delivered to bodies of water, where, upon dissolving, it increases the water's alkalinity. This is particularly intended to enhance ocean alkalinity, aiding in carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere and mitigating ocean acidification.

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• Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) to sequester atmospheric CO2 and reduce ocean acidification.
• Treatment of natural or artificial bodies of water (seas, lakes, rivers) to increase their ability to neutralize acidification.
• Industrial carbon capture and storage processes using metal carbonate hydrates as intermediates or products.
• Emergency remediation of acidified aquatic environments.
• Processing waste CO2 from industrial sources into a usable solid for marine or freshwater applications.

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• Enables scalable and controlled production of rare, reactive carbonate hydrates (e.g., ikaite) for environmental use.
• Provides solid forms that are more stable to store and transport than dissolved chemicals, increasing flexibility for large-scale interventions.
• Enhances the alkalinity of oceans and other water bodies, supporting greater uptake of CO2 and reducing water acidification.
• Has a cost and energy profile potentially competitive with or better than alternative carbon sequestration approaches.
• Avoids adding heavy metals or bioactive trace elements, reducing environmental risk compared to other mineral addition methods.

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Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of producing a solid metal carbonate hydrate by contacting carbon dioxide, water and a metal carbonate to form an aqueous mixture, and applying a vacuum to the aqueous mixture thereby precipitating a metal carbonate hydrate. The invention also relates to solid metal carbonate hydrates obtainable by the aforementioned method. Metal carbonate hydrates are able to increase the alkalinity of aqueous solutions. Accordingly, uses of solid metal carbonate hydrates to increase the alkalinity of a body of water are also included in the invention, as are methods to increase the alkalinity of at least part of a body of water.