Descripción del proyecto
Estudiar la carbonatación mineral natural para combatir el cambio climático
La carbonatación mineral se perfila como una solución prometedora para afrontar el cambio climático. Sin embargo, se ha prestado poca atención a la gestión y mejora de sus manifestaciones naturales. El equipo del proyecto OASIS, financiado por las MSCA, pretende colmar esta laguna investigando la meteorización mejorada de las rocas (ERW, por sus sigla en inglés) para acelerar este lento proceso. Además, en el proyecto se investigará la adsorción de vapor de agua (WVA, por sus siglas en inglés) en tierras secas, que potencialmente ofrecen valiosos sumideros de carbono a largo plazo. Mediante experimentos e infraestructuras para simular las condiciones y el cambio climático, en OASIS se espera mejorar nuestra comprensión de la carbonatación mineral natural. En definitiva, se trata de extraer conclusiones sobre los beneficios de la ERW en las zonas áridas. Se espera que los hallazgos del proyecto aporten argumentos convincentes para aplicar medidas de conservación y promover prácticas agrícolas sostenibles en las regiones áridas.
Objetivo
Mineral carbonation is based on the reaction of CO2 with metal oxide bearing materials to precipitate insoluble carbonates, with calcium being one of the most attractive metals. While the development of industrial carbonation processes has been recommended to mitigate climate change, its natural occurrence in soils and its potential enhancement through management practices has received little attention so far. Since natural carbonation is commonly considered to be a slow process, spreading powder of non-carbonated, calcium-bearing minerals over soils, a strategy known as enhanced rock weathering (ERW), is a promising way to accelerate it. While humid tropical areas are generally regarded as having the greatest potential for ERW, recent evidence suggests that carbonation may also be significant in drylands, driven by water vapour adsorption (WVA) by soil at night, potentially representing an overlooked long-term carbon sink. The general objective of the OASIS project is to assess the potential of ERW in dryland soils. Its main underlying assumption is that optimizing WVA with amendment of highly adsorbent ground rock will maximize the carbonation process while reducing the dependence of phototrophic organisms on rainfall or irrigation. To tackle this objective, OASIS will implement field and mesocosm manipulative experiments using cutting-edge infrastructure to control environmental conditions and simulate climate change. These will be coupled to state-of-the-art measurements and isotopic tracing of soil-atmosphere water vapor and CO2 fluxes. This research will contribute to filling several gaps in our understanding of natural carbonation and its interactions with WVA, organisms, and climate change. It is also expected to provide solid arguments to implement conservation measures and sustainable agricultural practices in drylands or seasonally dry lands to protect and increase water and carbon resources, in line with several European and global guidelines.
Ámbito científico
- engineering and technologycivil engineeringwater engineeringirrigation
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compounds
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryalkaline earth metals
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes
- social scienceseconomics and businessbusiness and management
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - Global FellowshipsCoordinador
03690 Alicante
España