Carbon Capture:
Alt Carbon, a Darjeeling-based company, accelerates the natural process of rock weathering to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) by using crushed basalt, a type of volcanic rock rich in minerals like calcium and magnesium.
- Crushed basalt, a type of volcanic rock, is spread over land to increase surface area, accelerating natural weathering processes.
- Atmospheric CO2 reacts with minerals in the basalt, forming bicarbonates that are washed into oceans where carbon is stored for long periods.
- This speeds up the natural carbon capture process, which normally takes thousands of years, making it efficient in 2-4 years.
- Basalt-rich regions like the Deccan Traps in Maharashtra and Gujarat, as well as Jharkhand and West Bengal (Rajmahal Traps), are ideal for sourcing the basalt rock.
- Apart from capturing carbon, basalt also acts as a soil enhancer, improving fertility and benefiting agricultural productivity.
- For every 3-4 tonnes of basalt dust, 1 tonne of CO2 can be sequestered over a few years.
- Companies can purchase carbon credits generated from this process to offset their emissions voluntarily.
