Chemically Enhanced Convective Dissolution of CO_{2}

Phys Rev Lett. 2024 Feb 23;132(8):084002. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.132.084002.

Abstract

Convective dissolution, one of the main mechanisms for geological storage of CO_{2}, occurs when supercritical or gas CO_{2} dissolves partially into an aqueous solution, thus triggering downward convection of the denser CO_{2}-enriched liquid. Chemical reaction in the liquid can greatly enhance the process. Here, experimental measurements of convective flow inside a cylinder filled with a sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution show that the plume's velocity can be increased tenfold as compared to a situation with no NaOH. This tremendous effect is predicted by a model with no adjusting parameters.