Reducing carbon dioxide emissions by using carbon dioxide and desalination effluent

Hydrophis Australia, in collaboration with SA Water and its contract partner AdelaideAqua Pty Ltd, today announce a pilot program to demonstrate the utilisation of carbon dioxide emissions, by combining carbon dioxide with brine effluent from the Adelaide Desalination Plant using Hydrophis’ chemical processes and infrastructure. The result of the chemical processes produces saleable mineral carbonates such as calcium carbonate, which can be used in the manufacture of green cement, glass, paper, plastics and other products. This pilot is the first of its kind operating in Australia.

By sourcing carbon dioxide from heavy industry and selling the mineral carbonates into other industries we are able to support the creation of circular economies around the reuse of carbon dioxide, thereby preventing its release into the atmosphere, and helping to arrest, in part, global warming.

Hydrophis has spent four years researching strategies for reducing global warming through the capture of carbon dioxide. This pilot is the culmination of that research. Hydrophis founder Glenn Leighton said: “We are hugely satisfied to reach this point in the research and development program, and demonstrate the technology in the Adelaide Desalination Plant operational setting. The remaining step is to bring the technology to production scale.”

Acciona, a co-owner of AdelaideAqua who operate the desalination plant on behalf of SA Water, have been tremendously supportive of the project, as it completely aligns with their own sustainable and regenerative infrastructure programs.

Sydney-based Membraneworks have been partnering with Hydrophis to take this project from concept through to laboratory proof of concept and finally to building and operating the demonstration pilot. Nik Zwaneveld, CEO says : “It’s very exciting for our team to be building pilot plants using cutting edge of innovation and with companies such as Hydrophis and AdelaideAqua who have the vision to be part of the green revolution”.