Method of producing a solid metal carbonate hydrate

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of producing a solid metal carbonate hydrate by contacting carbon dioxide, water and a metal carbonate to form an aqueous mixture, and applying a vacuum to the aqueous mixture thereby precipitating a metal carbonate hydrate. The invention also relates to solid metal carbonate hydrates obtainable by the aforementioned method. Metal carbonate hydrates are able to increase the alkalinity of aqueous solutions. Accordingly, uses of solid metal carbonate hydrates to increase the alkalinity of a body of water are also included in the invention, as are methods to increase the alkalinity of at least part of a body of water.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.