Abstract
Weathering and subsequent precipitation of Ca- and Mg-carbonates are the main processes that control the CO2-concentration in the atmosphere. It seems logical, therefore, to use enhanced weathering as a tool to reduce rising CO2-levels. This can be applied as a technology, by reacting captured CO2 with olivine or calcium-silicates in autoclaves. It can also be applied extensively, by spreading fine-powdered olivine on farmland or forestland. Measures to control the CO2-levels of the atmosphere will be adopted more readily if they also serve some broader economic goals. An effective strategy for CO2 control will require many parallel approaches simultaneously.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Churg, A.: 1993, ‘Asbestos lung burden and disease pattern in man’, Rev. Mineralogy 28, 409–426.
Goldberg, P., Romanosky, R., and Zhong-Ying Chen: 2001, CO2 Mineral Sequestration Studies in the US. Abstr.First National Conference on Carbon Sequestration. May 14–17, Washington, DC.
Holland, H. D.: 1984, The Chemical Evolution of the Atmosphere and Oceans, Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ.
Hooke, R. L.: 2000, ‘On the history of humans as geomorphic agents’, Geology 28, 845.
Jonckbloedt, R. C. L.: 1997, The Dissolution of Olivine in Acid. A Cost Effective Process for the Elimination of Waste Acids. PhD – Thesis, Utrecht, 114 pp.
Lackner, K. S., Butt, D. P., Wendt, C. H., Goff, F. and Guthrie, G.: 1997, Carbon dioxide disposal in mineral form. Keeping coal competitive. Report Los Alamos National Laboratory, November 1997.
Lieftink, D. J.: 1997, The preparation and characterization of silica from acid treatment of olivine. PhD Thesis, Utrecht, 175 pp.
Orgun, Y., Gultekin, A. M., Cevik, E., and Copuroglu, M.: 2004, Mineralogic and geochemical characteristics of the Orhaneli dunite and its importance in point of olivine, Orhaneli-Bursa, western Anatolia, Turkey. 5th International Symposiumon Eastern Mediterranean Geology, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Schuiling, R. D., Van Herk, J., and Pietersen, H. S.: 1986, ‘A potential process for the neutralization of industrial waste acids by reaction with olivine’, Geologie & Mijnbouw 65, 243–246.
Schuiling, R. D.: 1990, ‘Geochemical engineering: Some thoughts on a new research field’, Appl. Geoch. 5(3), 251–262.
Schuiling, R. D., and Andrade, A.: 1999, ‘Recovery of struvite from calf manure’, Env. Techn. 20, 765–768.
Swift, R. S.: 2001, ‘Sequestration of carbon by soil’, Soil Science 166, 858–871.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schuiling, R.D., Krijgsman, P. Enhanced Weathering: An Effective and Cheap Tool to Sequester Co2 . Climatic Change 74, 349–354 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-005-3485-y
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-005-3485-y