DISSOLUTION OF CO2 DROPLETS IN THE OCEAN

Dissolution of CO2 droplets in the ocean has been studied. Owing to hy drogen bonding and supersaturation with CO2, seawater at the surface o f the CO2 droplets becomes highly structured. Since this quasi-crystal line structure is similar to that of hydrate crystal elements, hydrate formation on the droplets will not cause a dramatic decrease in the d issolution rate as reported in the literature. Mass transfer of a buoy ant CO2 droplet in Stokes flow in the ocean is analysed. Based on the derived mass-transfer coefficients, shrinkage rates for CO2 droplets w ithout and with a hydrate shell are predicted. Good agreement is obser ved between predictions and experimental data. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd.