Carbon sequestration method

• US 20110027017A1
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Earth Renaissance Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Earth Renaissance Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: Harmon, John, Theodore, Marcus G., Gong, Terry, Atkin, Bill
• Granted Patent: US 8,092,118 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/128.1
• CPC Class Codes: C05D 3/02 from limestone, calcium carbonate, calcium hydrate, slaked lime, calcium oxide, waste calcium products
• CPC Class Codes: C05D 9/00 Other inorganic fertilisers
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 7/00 Fertilisers from waste water, sewage sludge, sea slime, ooze or similar masses
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 7/005 Waste water from industrial processing material neither of agricultural nor of animal origin
• CPC Class Codes: C05F 7/02 from sulfite liquor or other waste lyes from the manufacture of cellulose
• CPC Class Codes: C05G 5/27 Dispersions, e.g. suspensions or emulsions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/20 Reduction of greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions in agriculture, e.g. CO2

Abstract

A method to create a net increase in soil organic carbon (SOC) by acidifying land applied waters with pH adjusted sulfur dioxide to open up soil pores at greater depths, while providing sulfur and other nutrients to plants and soil bacteria to stimulate and increase their overall grow and their assimilation of carbon dioxide to sequester a greater net volume increase of soil organic carbon (SOC).

Claims

1. A method to enhance sequestration of carbon in soil comprising introducing sulfur dioxide into waters diverted from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, deep wells, agricultural drainage, recycled water from wastewater treatment facilities, blow down water from cooling towers, food processing, production water accumulated as a result of mineral, crude oil, and coal bed natural gas mining operations, and other water sources to form sulfurous acid as a means to feed and stimulate the growth of water and soil microbes, and to reduce total alkalinity and provide sufficient acid to break down soil carbonate/bicarbonates to increase soil porosity at greater depths to improve water, air, and nutrient penetration for growing crops with roots containing soil bacteria and microbes at soil concentrations of sodium adsorption ratios (SAR), electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and pH at a range favorable for agronomic and microbial activity to sequester carbon dioxide into the soil providing a net increase of soil organic carbon (SOC).

2. A method to enhance sequestration of carbon in soil according to claim 1, wherein the SAR is less than 15, EC less than 2 dS m⁻

1 (m mho cm<sup>−

1</sup>), CEC less than 57.5 centimoles/kg, and a pH less than 8;

the specific soil ratios and concentration levels selected for raising plants and soil microbes to increase the absorbing of carbon dioxide and reduce soil bicarbonates/carbonates.

3. A method to enhance sequestration of carbon in soil according to claim 1, including adding a supplemental source of calcium to the sulfurous acid to reduce soil SAR concentrations.

4. A method to enhance sequestration of carbon in soil according to claim 3, including adding anhydrous or hydrous lime, calcium oxide, calcium carbonate or other calcium bases to the sulfurous acid to raise the pH and calcium ion concentrations to provide soil concentrations of SAR less than 15.

5. A carbon sequestration method according to claim 4, wherein the SAR is selected to create a soil condition in which plants can grow at an optimal rate to continuously create a sufficient amount of plant and root biomass in order to create the necessary feedstock and food source that will be needed to feed and sustain a higher population density of soil bacteria.

6. A carbon sequestration method according to claim 1, wherein the amount of acidified water is applied to maximize sequestered carbon dioxide by keeping and maintaining the aggregate of the open soil pores unplugged in order to optimize the exchange of oxygen (O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) and all of the natural constituents found in normal air, throughout the soil, and to prevent soils from water-logging and the accumulation of salts by allowing the acidified waters to penetrate continuously and leach salts deeper into the soil profile.

7. A carbon sequestration method according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of the sulfurous acid has a soil pH of between 2 and 7.0 depending upon the bicarbonate concentration in the water used to apply the sulfurous acid.

8. A carbon sequestration method according to claim 1, wherein the sulfurous acid is generated as needed using a sulfur dioxide/sulfurous acid generator/sulfur burner device that uses the water source to scrub and capture sulfur dioxide and to prevent accidental release of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere.

9. A carbon sequestration method according to claim 1, including adding plant nutrients and soil amendments to the sulfurous acid to accelerate growth of the plant roots, and to feed and stimulate soil bacteria and microbes.

10. A carbon sequestration method according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of the sulfurous acid depends upon the Total Alkalinity carbonate/bicarbonate concentrations of the water source used to apply the sulfurous acid.

11. A carbon sequestration method according to claim 1 including pH adjusting saline sulfurous acid with lime and applying it to the soil to adjust the SAR soil ratio to overcome the salinity and promote growing of crops, soil bacteria, and microbes, which sequester carbon dioxide.

12. A method to enhance sequestration of carbon in soil Rhizosphere comprising:

a. determining soil pH and chemical composition and plants and soil bacteria and microbes of the Rhizosphere,

b. determining pH and chemical composition of waters to be land applied,

c. acidifying the waters to be land applied with sulfur dioxide to form sulfur dioxide treated waters,

d. pH adjusting the sulfur dioxide-treated waters and land applying the pH adjusted sulfur dioxide treated waters to provide the desired pH to break down bicarbonate clogged soil pores for nutrients to reach plant roots and soil bacteria and microbes in the Rhizosphere so that they can flourish and multiply deeper into and throughout the soil to sequester more carbon,

e. testing the sulfur dioxide-treated and pH adjusted soil to determine increase in soil depth and bulk density, and

f. calculating the increase in carbon sequestration to qualify for carbon credits.

13. A carbon sequestration method according to claim 12, including:

a. adjusting the pH of the sulfur dioxide-treated waters with lime and calcium oxide,

b. adding nutrients to the pH adjusted sulfur dioxide-treated waters, and

c. continually applying the pH adjusted, nutrient supplemented sulfur dioxide-treated waters until the plant roots and soil bacteria and microbes penetrate to a greater soil depth than before sulfur dioxide treatment.

14. A carbon sequestration method according to claim 12, wherein the waters to be land applied comprise wastewater.

15. A carbon sequestration method according to claim 12, wherein the amount of sulfur dioxide to be added is dependent upon the type plant roots and soil bacteria and microbes in the Rhizosphere, and the amount added estimated by carbonic acid/sulfurous acid titration curves.