My invention uses ambient CO2, snaps off the carbons and cobbles them into graphene (mega-glorious carbon membrane 1 atom thick) and releases O2 back into the wilderness. I can even configure it to make O3 because it’s just that great (and I’ve got me a stovepipe to the stratosphere where I vent the stuff). I’m tapped into a nice geothermal vent for my power generation—It’s a totally green operation. Let’s say it’s a really big gadget, too, and everybody loves it and they’re popping up all over the globe. Eventually, atmospheric CO2 levels are actually dropping and O2 levels are rising. The eco people are getting hostile again but I’m rich now so I silence them.
Assuming nobody really knows how the global climate works, what are the effects on critters of our atmosphere becoming depleted of CO2? Of rising O2 levels?
I don’t think the plants and trees would be too happy about there being no more CO2 in the atmosphere. Given that they are at, or near, the bottom of a lot of food chains you could end up doing more damage than good. Best to use it sparingly I think.
But wouldn’t it be worth it, to use diamond as a building material?
If O[sub]2[/sub] level goes above some figure like 27%, WHOOSH. Everything that can burn, will. Thus recombining the excess oxygen and restoring Nature’s balance.
One of the upper limits to the number of years that the Earth will be able to sustain life is the sequestration of CO2 by the oceans. In something like 500 Million years, there will be too little CO2 in the atmosphere to support plant life, and then we’re doomed. Please don’t hurry it up!
There would be almost no effect on the overall O[sub]2[/sub] level even if you replaced ALL the CO[sub]2[/sub] with O[sub]2[/sub] because there’s so little CO[sub]2[/sub] relative to O[sub]2[/sub].
With today’s technology - probably not. Even burning all the available oil probably wouldn’t extend the life of the planet by more than a few centuries.
However, if Humanity ca survive for 500 Million years, we might have the technology to recycle the CO2 that is now trapped in limestone and put it back into the atmosphere. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Anyway, your awfully close to the way they make carbon nanotubes. Generally they use carbon monoxide instead. Converting CO[sub]2[/sub] into CO is pretty easy. With the practically infinite energy you suggest, you can simply release more CO[sub]2[/sub] from lime stone and the like.
We do this right now in the production of lime. IIRC, the limestone has to be heated up to about 800 C. The main use of lime is in making cement. Some, but not all the CO[sub]2[/sub] is reabsorbed in the cement as it cures. Basically it’s changing back into limestone, but mainly just the surface layer.
