Israeli scientists are studying a natural process that has balanced Earth’s climate for millions of years by removing carbon dioxide from the air through interactions between rain, rocks, and water. By speeding up this slow process, they aim to reduce excess CO₂ released from burning fossil fuels for electricity, transport, and industry. Using simple natural chemistry, the researchers combine rocks, seawater, and controlled amounts of CO₂ to lock carbon into a stable form, without relying on complex machines or rare materials.
How nature removes carbon dioxide using rocks
In the natural world, rainwater absorbs carbon dioxide from the air. This turns the rain slightly acidic. When this weak acid touches rocks, it reacts with the minerals inside them. This process is known as weathering.
Limestone and dolomite are two common types of rock involved in this process. Both contain minerals made from calcium, magnesium, and carbon. When acidic water flows over these rocks, part of the rock dissolves. This releases calcium and bicarbonate into the water.
These dissolved materials travel through rivers and eventually reach the sea. In the ocean, tiny marine animals use them to build shells and skeletons. When these organisms die, their hard parts sink to the ocean floor. Over very long periods, they become part of solid rock again. This completes a natural carbon cycle.
This cycle normally takes thousands or even millions of years. It keeps the level of CO₂ in the atmosphere relatively stable. However, human activity has added huge amounts of CO₂ in a very short time. Nature cannot keep up at its normal pace.
As a result, more heat stays trapped near Earth’s surface. This leads to rising temperatures, longer droughts, heavier rainfall, and more flooding. Even though many countries have agreed to cut emissions, global CO₂ levels continue to rise. Because of this imbalance, scientists are exploring ways to help nature do its job faster.
Speeding up weathering with seawater and carbon dioxide
Israeli scientists are testing a method called enhanced weathering. The idea is to recreate natural rock weathering inside a controlled system. Instead of waiting for rain to slowly pass over rocks, the process uses seawater mixed with carbon dioxide and flows it through crushed rock.
The system uses transparent columns filled with rock. Seawater and CO₂ are passed through these columns. As the acidic water moves through the rock, chemical reactions occur. Carbon dioxide changes form and becomes dissolved carbon in the water.
Tests show that different rocks behave in different ways. Dolomite has been found to absorb more CO₂ than limestone. Grain size also matters. Smaller rock grains increase the total amount of carbon that dissolves. Larger grains allow the reaction to happen faster. Both factors play an important role in how effective the process is.
The balance between CO₂ and seawater is also important. Too much gas or too little water reduces efficiency. Experiments have identified ratios that allow the reaction to work more effectively.
This setup is described as an open reactor. That means gases can still escape into the air. At the moment, only part of the carbon dioxide stays locked into the water. Limestone absorbs about ten to fifteen percent of the CO₂ used in the process. Dolomite absorbs roughly twenty to thirty percent.
Even with these limits, the experiments provide valuable data. They demonstrate how scientists can guide and measure natural chemistry in a controlled environment.
From laboratory testing to real-world limits
The research focuses on basic science rather than full-scale deployment. Israeli scientists aim to understand the chemical reactions and physical conditions that control how much carbon dioxide they can capture.
One idea explored in the work involves using concentrated CO₂ from power plant exhausts. These emissions already contain large amounts of carbon dioxide. Mixing this gas with seawater creates acidic water that can react with rock more quickly.
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In Israel, some power stations are located near large deposits of dolomite rock. This makes the concept geographically practical. However, the current systems are not yet designed to trap all the carbon dioxide involved. Much of the gas still returns to the atmosphere.
Another challenge is cost. Removing carbon dioxide does not yet provide direct financial benefits to energy producers. Without policies that place a price on emissions, industries have little economic reason to invest in carbon removal systems.
The research highlights the need for engineering solutions to improve efficiency. Larger systems would require careful design to reduce gas loss and handle large volumes of water and rock. At the same time, any real-world system would need to operate safely and consistently. For now, the work remains focused on understanding how enhanced weathering behaves under different conditions.
Israeli scientists study rock types, grain sizes, water chemistry, and gas flow to build a clear picture of how they can accelerate this natural process. The findings add to global efforts to explore carbon dioxide removal methods that rely on Earth’s own chemistry. Enhanced weathering stands out because it uses materials that are already abundant and familiar. The research shows how a slow, natural system can be studied, adjusted, and measured in a modern scientific setting, using simple elements like rock, water, and air.
