Carbon dioxide can be removed from the atmosphere by increasing the phytoplankton population in the oceans using nutrients. Life cycle assessment, cost analyses and data from previous studies reveal that engineered nanoparticles could increase the efficiency of this process and that it can be made affordable, viable, and safe for marine ecosystems.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to Nature+
Get immediate online access to Nature and 55 other Nature journal
$29.99
monthly
Subscribe to Journal
Get full journal access for 1 year
$119.00
only $9.92 per issue
All prices are NET prices.
VAT will be added later in the checkout.
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.
Buy article
Get time limited or full article access on ReadCube.
$32.00
All prices are NET prices.
References
Boyd, P. W. et al. Mesoscale iron enrichment experiments 1993-2005: synthesis and future directions. Science 315, 61–617 (2007). A seminal review article that describes ocean fertilization field experiments.
Smetacek, V. et al. Deep carbon export from a Southern Ocean iron-fertilized diatom bloom. Nature 487, 313 (2012). A study that demonstrates ocean fertilization accompanied by carbon removal.
Williamson, P. et al. Ocean fertilization for geoengineering: a review of effectiveness, environmental impacts and emerging governance. Process Saf. Environ. Prot. 90, 475–488 (2012). A review article emphasizing the environmental effects of ocean fertilization.
Hochella, M. F. et al. Natural, incidental, and engineered nanomaterials and their impacts on the Earth system. Science 363, 6434 (2019). A review article that maps the influence and fate of engineered nanoparticles on Earth, including within the oceans.
Chen, F. et al. Algae response to engineered nanoparticles: current understanding, mechanisms and implications. Environ. Sci. Nano 6, 1026–1042 (2019). A review of the different interactions of engineered nanoparticles with algae.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This is a summary of: Babakhani, P. et al. Potential use of engineered nanoparticles in ocean fertilization for large-scale atmospheric carbon dioxide removal. Nat. Nanotechnol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-022-01226-w (2022).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Using engineered nanoparticles to increase carbon dioxide storage in the ocean. Nat. Nanotechnol. 17, 1245–1246 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-022-01227-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-022-01227-9
