Carbon dioxide, CO2, is a main greenhouse gas contributing to climate change because it is released in large quantities resulting from human activity. Carbon sequestration is the process of removing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it securely. Soil carbon sequestration in particular is an excellent candidate for CO2 sequestration as soils can hold three to four times more CO2 from the atmosphere, making it important to consider as a means of mitigating atmospheric CO2. Soils from Wissahickon Valley Park, PA were analyzed to determine if a soil amendment, 5% goethite (an iron oxyhydroxide), decreases soil CO2 emissions. Soil respiration rates were compared to soil with no additives as a function of heat and photosynthetic light. All trials resulted in reduced CO2 respiration rates, with temperature variability having the greatest influence, with and without the addition of goethite. CO2 respiration rates were reduced by 34% for heated trials, 29% for red/blue light samples, and 13% for the control. Furthermore, the addition of goethite had greatest effect on minimizing the flux of CO2 with regards of the addition of light or heat to the control. This suggests that the goethite, which has a high surface area to adsorb the CO2 molecules, is able to decrease its flux.

Soil carbon sequestration through the addition of heat, iron oxyhydroxides, and light

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

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