Dynamic breathing of CO2 by hydrotalcite.
The carbon cycle of carbonate solids (e.g., limestone) involves weathering and metamorphic events, which usually occur over millions of years. Here we show that carbonate anion intercalated layered double hydroxide (LDH), a class of hydrotalcite, undergoes an ultrarapid carbon cycle with uptake of atmospheric CO2 under ambient conditions. The use of (13)C-labeling enabled monitoring by IR spectroscopy of the dynamic exchange between initially intercalated (13)C-labeled carbonate anions and carbonate anions derived from atmospheric CO2. Exchange is promoted by conditions of low humidity with a half-life of exchange of ~24 h. Since hydrotalcite-like clay minerals exist in Nature, our finding implies that the global carbon cycle involving exchange between lithosphere and atmosphere is much more dynamic than previously thought.
International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) , 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan.
Shinsuke
S
Ishihara
Pathik
P
Sahoo
Kenzo
K
Deguchi
Shinobu
S
Ohki
Masataka
M
Tansho
Tadashi
T
Shimizu
Jan
J
Labuta
Jonathan P
JP
Hill
Katsuhiko
K
Ariga
Ken
K
Watanabe
Yusuke
Y
Yamauchi
Shigeru
S
Suehara
Nobuo
N
Iyi
D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D000838:Anions / Q000737:chemistry; D001272:Atmosphere / Q000737:chemistry; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry; D057486:Carbon Cycle; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D002254:Carbonates / Q000737:chemistry*; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry*
D000838:Anions; D002254:Carbonates; D006878:Hydroxides; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C010467:hydrotalcite; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide; D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide