Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW)
Mineral dissolution, water chemistry and treatment of collected process streams.
Enhanced Rock Weathering accelerates reactions between suitable silicate minerals, water and CO₂. Finely ground rock, such as selected basalt materials, exposes more reactive surface. Weathering can generate dissolved bicarbonate, which may move through soils and waterways. Reaction rates and the final carbon pathway depend on the mineral and its environment.
Understanding the water–mineral interface
For field-based ERW, mineral application and soil processes are central; a membrane plant is not a standard stage in every project. Lenntech’s water-treatment expertise is more directly relevant where a project collects drainage, recirculates contact water or investigates mineral dissolution in a controlled system. Water analysis can help distinguish dissolved products from suspended rock particles.
Where Lenntech technologies may fit
| Technology or task | Potential role | Design consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Settling, filtration and UF | Separate fine particles from collected contact water where needed. | Dissolved bicarbonate passes through ordinary particle filtration. |
| NF and ion exchange | Evaluate selective ion separation in controlled dissolution or recovery studies. | These are optional research or process steps, not universal ERW requirements. |
| RO and water reuse | Assess recovery of water from suitable managed streams. | Concentration changes the scaling balance and generates a concentrate stream. |
| Water-chemistry assessment | Track pH, alkalinity, dissolved ions and potential impurities. | A change in water chemistry alone does not establish the full carbon balance. |
What to evaluate during development
- Mineralogy, particle size and the presence of potentially harmful elements
- Dissolution behaviour under representative water and soil conditions
- Background alkalinity, water flows and sampling strategy
- Energy for grinding and transport, downstream chemistry and carbon accounting
Developing the water and separation steps
Lenntech supports water and brine treatment development through laboratory evaluation, pilot testing and engineering support. For this application, potential treatment steps can be evaluated using representative streams and clearly defined separation objectives.
The scope described here is enabling water and process support. It does not represent a proprietary Lenntech enhanced rock weathering process or a guaranteed carbon-removal performance.
Mineral dissolution, alkalinity generation and durable atmospheric CO₂ removal are connected but are not interchangeable measurements. Rates and storage outcomes are site-specific.
Discuss your ERW project
A process outline, available water analyses and the desired separation outcomes can help frame the discussion. Contact Lenntech to explore the water-treatment scope for your concept.
Discuss water and separation requirements