Another ecological disaster just waiting to happen.
Posted: 22 Jul 2024, 16:38
Scientists have discovered that metallic nodules lying on the seabed are producing oxygen and hydrogen. However, mining companies want them because they contain copper, lithium and cobalt necessary to make batteries.
The different potential energies of these elements when immersed in an electrolyte (sea water) makes them act like a battery and so electrolysis happens. The sea water is split into oxygen and hydrogen and, as we all know, oxygen is essential to us for life.
We need to think long and hard about this nodule mining lark.
The different potential energies of these elements when immersed in an electrolyte (sea water) makes them act like a battery and so electrolysis happens. The sea water is split into oxygen and hydrogen and, as we all know, oxygen is essential to us for life.
We need to think long and hard about this nodule mining lark.