What the CO2 Removal Process Actually Looks Like in Practice

Despite the rumors that you’ve heard, CO2 only makes up about .04% of the Earth’s atmosphere. So, why is there such a huge pull to get rid of it? Does it really contribute that much to global warming?

The answer is yes.

You see, as the Earth absorbs energy from the sun, the surface of the planet heats up. When this happens, it creates a large amount of radiation. CO2 and water vapor hold in the energy like a cap on a soda bottle.

That’s why CO2 removal is so important. Implementing certain techniques will allow us to say hello to clean air. Keep reading to learn how the process works.

Benefits of CO2 Removal

As we said, even though there is only a small percentage of CO2 in the air, it is still enough to be a problem. Removal won’t make the percentage go down, but it can prevent it from going up.

Many of the dirty air removal techniques that we’re going to talk about do more than cut back on CO2. They promote wildlife and land conservation on a massive scale.

If we all come together to combat climate change, it can create economic growth and help people jumpstart a career.

Reforestation and Afforestation

The most inexpensive method for getting more pure oxygen into the air is planting a few trees. As they shoot up, they zap CO2 out of the air.

There are two methods that are effective for growing new trees. The first is reforestation. It involves replanting trees in areas that lost their original ones due to some kind of fire or natural disaster.

Afforestation is the process of planting trees in places that have never seen a touch of green before.

The problem with this method of CO2 removal is that it takes too long to see any progress. Trees don’t grow overnight, after all.

You also can’t plant trees and forget about them. Due to pests and wildfires, they take some careful management.

Soil Carbon Sequestration

When plants die, all the carbon they’ve managed to absorb will go right back into the soil. Depending on the environmental conditions, that CO2 can last for years.

Soil carbon sequestration can remove it, and it’s not a difficult or expensive process to begin. It makes the soil healthier, which allows for a more fruitful harvest.

The best part? It doesn’t do a lot of harm to the land or disrupt any major water sources.

Carbon Mineralization

Minerals such as basaltic lava form a solid material once they come into contact with carbon. This naturally occurring process can be used to store large amounts of CO2.

Scientists can infuse basaltic lava and peridotite with fluid that bares a small amount of carbon. The mineral will permanently hold on to the CO2 and keep it out of the atmosphere.

While carbon mineralization has great potential, there is the possibility that it could damage water sources. The process could also cause earthquakes.

Bioenergy With Carbon Capture and Storage

Bioenergy with carbon capture is an expensive process that involves burning plants in a factory. The facility is able to use the plants as fuel and store the emissions.

In the end, carbon capture and storage prevent the plants from letting CO2 out into the atmosphere when they die and decay.

Enhanced Weathering

Acid rain is a naturally occurring process where rainwater melds with CO2. It has the power to dissolve rocks after a certain period of time.

The rocks create bicarbonate as they break down, which acts as a carbon sink of sorts. Eventually, it moves on to the ocean where it remains stored.

Enhanced weathering eliminates the middle man. The rocks are pre-crushed and spread around the land and ocean.

The bicarbonate springs into action by kicking ocean acidification to the curb. It can even affect the pH of the soil.

The issue is that enhanced weathering is pretty expensive. All the mining, grinding, and transporting can be a lengthy process.

Direct Air Capture

As the name suggests, this method involves grabbing the CO2 right out of the atmosphere. There are a few ways the process can go.

The first pushes the air through a liquid solution. The CO2 molecules are captured, and the rest goes right back out into the atmosphere.

There’s also DAC. It heats the filters that chemically combine with CO2 and places them under a vacuum. The process releases a concentration of CO2 that can be captured and stored.

If you want to help out with direct air capture, you can by going to https://climeworks.com/subscriptions.

Ocean Fertilization

Ocean fertilization adds nutrients to the ocean that promotes algae growth. The new plants will take in the carbon via photosynthesis. The problem is that it can cause zones that are depleted of oxygen to some degree.

The algae can also attract phytoplankton, which can cause the natural food chain to fluctuate.

Despite these setbacks, ocean fertilization is good for CO2 removal, but it’s not as effective as the other methods on this list.

Kick Disgusting Air to the Curb

There isn’t a lot of CO2 in the atmosphere, but it doesn’t take much of it to dirty the air.

While CO2 removal won’t be able to get rid of the chemicals that are already there, it can prevent more from forming. Do what you can do to kick CO2 to the curb today.

To learn more about removing CO2 and protecting the environment, feel free to explore the rest of our blog.