deep
July 23, 2024 7:06 PM Subscribe
'When they discovered oxygen 13,000 feet underwater, in areas so dark that photosynthesis would be impossible, they initially thought their equipment had malfunctioned. Eventually, they came to suspect the polymetallic nodules were a source of this “dark” oxygen.' [yale environment 360]
[nature geoscience:] 'The oxygen evolution reaction requires an input voltage of 1.23 V plus an overpotential of approximately 0.37 V to split seawater into H2 and O2 at NORI-D’s seafloor mean pH (7.41). This value can be lowered by several hundred millivolts if the reaction proceeds via the lattice-oxygen-mediated mechanism. Use of metal catalysts such as [Manganese] oxides enriched with transition metals [e.g. Nickel] found in nodules and characterized by large tunnel areas and abundant defect sites can optimize the adsorption of reactants and enhance conductivity and catalytic performance.'
'In the Clarion-Clipperton Zone alone, a key area of interest for deep-sea mining, researchers have recently discovered over 5,000 species that were entirely new to science.' [world resources institute]
[nature geoscience:] 'The oxygen evolution reaction requires an input voltage of 1.23 V plus an overpotential of approximately 0.37 V to split seawater into H2 and O2 at NORI-D’s seafloor mean pH (7.41). This value can be lowered by several hundred millivolts if the reaction proceeds via the lattice-oxygen-mediated mechanism. Use of metal catalysts such as [Manganese] oxides enriched with transition metals [e.g. Nickel] found in nodules and characterized by large tunnel areas and abundant defect sites can optimize the adsorption of reactants and enhance conductivity and catalytic performance.'
'In the Clarion-Clipperton Zone alone, a key area of interest for deep-sea mining, researchers have recently discovered over 5,000 species that were entirely new to science.' [world resources institute]
I hope that this ends all the talk of deep sea mining. We need technology innovation for batteries that use common surface minerals like silicon, not technology innovation for deep sea mining.
posted by hydropsyche at 3:42 AM on July 24 [4 favorites]
posted by hydropsyche at 3:42 AM on July 24 [4 favorites]
Dark oxygen. Huh. I'll be pondering this as I go about breathing today.
posted by kozad at 6:35 AM on July 24 [2 favorites]
posted by kozad at 6:35 AM on July 24 [2 favorites]
Deep sea mining for these rocks has to be stopped before it starts.
posted by Catblack at 7:31 AM on July 24 [2 favorites]
posted by Catblack at 7:31 AM on July 24 [2 favorites]
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posted by Stu-Pendous at 7:16 PM on July 23 [8 favorites]