The Effects of Recycled Calcium Hydroxide on the pH Level and Calcium Carbonate Concentration in Simulated Ocean Acidification

Presenter(s)

Hannah McClintock

Abstract or Description

While ocean acidification itself cannot be stopped, because there appears to be no lack or decline in carbon emissions, it’s still possible to slow down the effects. The goal of my experimentation is to find an effective way to slow down the acidity and calcium carbonate depletion caused by ocean acidification, without adding anything unnatural or anything that could possibly harm the environment. I am using sea shells that I have collected myself, they were found washed up on the shore and were individually checked to avoid collecting any shells that were still being occupied by a living organism. The collected shells are then crushed into a powder and undergo the calcination process (870 degrees celsius for 70 minutes)

to turn them from calcium carbonate into calcium oxide. Once the calcium oxide is poured into the tanks simulating ocean acidification (set to a pH of 7 with running filters in order to simulate the ocean’s natural buffer of aeration), the substance will turn into calcium hydroxide. Theoretically, the calcium hydroxide should raise the pH as it has a natural pH of 12.8 while also raising the carbonate concentration, allowing for more calcium carbonate to be developed.