By: Meg Xu
Carbon fixation is necessary in tackling climate conservation. The ocean is our world's biggest carbon sink but as we continue to dump carbon dioxide into the ocean we are increasing its acidity. There are many different ways of carbon fixation ranging from biological to chemical in nature.
Growth of algae increases absorption of carbon dioxide in oceans through photosynthesis. Relying on sunlight and nutrients these organisms serve as a major part of the oceans carbon fixation. However there are downsides to such means as an overgrowth of algae can deplete the ocean of both oxygen and nutrients. This can form dead zones which result in other organisms such as fish being incapable of living. Throughout the past decades plentiful research on cyanobacteria and related algae has been done with hopes of possible discoveries which could lead to successful manipulation of these biological processes. For example some studies have demonstrated that certain genetic mutations can increase fixation rates.
Meanwhile direct ocean capture relies on chemical and mechanical means. Seawater is first pulled into a chamber, filtered through a small opening. Some of this seawater is then diverted from the main chamber and softened using electrodialysis. This process works as the seawater passes through a positively charged and a negatively charged plate. The cations are attracted to the negative plate while the anions are attracted to the positive plate. Using selectively permeable filters between these two plates the seawater is divided into an acid and a base. The base is refiltered back into the ocean to decrease acidity. Meanwhile the acid is refiltered such that the carbon is captured by a carbon pump. Afterwards the former acid is redirected back into the ocean. This is just one of many unique methods to tackle both ocean acidification and carbon capture.
