We are advancing a new initiative to apply Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) technology to the neutralization of acid mine drainage (AMD) and the removal of carbon dioxide at abandoned and closed mine sites.
Within this initiative, the association pulverizes easily weatherable igneous rocks such as basalt and introduces them into acidic wastewater. By doing so, rock weathering is accelerated at a rate several thousand to tens of thousands of times faster than under neutral environmental conditions, with the aim of achieving the following two effects:
1. Removal of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
Cations released through the weathering reactions of rocks increase the alkalinity of downstream rivers, lakes, and oceans. As a result, atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves into water as bicarbonate ions or is fixed as stable minerals such as carbonates. Therefore, the removal of atmospheric carbon dioxide can be expected.
2. Neutralization of Acidity and Precipitation/Adsorption of Harmful Metals
The dissolution of silicate minerals contained in basalt contributes to neutralization. At the same time, there is an expected effect of immobilizing and adsorbing heavy metal ions through precipitation, thereby reducing their environmental impact.