Assessment of carbon sink potential and methane reduction scenarios of marine macroalgae(Gracilaria)cultivation

Marine macroalgae cultivation is an important part of the effort to address climate change through carbon sinks.Gracilaria,especially Gracilaria lemaneiformis and Gracilaria lichenoides are the major macroalgae cultivated in China.This study proposes a method to assess the net carbon sink of marine macroalgae(Gracilaria)cultivation.First,the net carbon sink of Gracilaria cultivation in China is calculated based on the yield of annual cultivated Gracilaria recorded in China Fishery Statistical Yearbook from 2011 to 2020.Next,we predict the net carbon sink trend of Gracilaria cultivation from 2021 to 2030 using the autoregressive integrated moving average model(ARIMA).Finally,the potential carbon sink increase and methane reduction related to Gracilaria cultivation in China is explored through a scenario analysis.We find that the net carbon sink of Gracilaria cultivation in China was about 32.1-92.4 kilotons per year from 2011 to 2020,and shows a great annual growth trend.Moreover,the predicted net carbon sink of Gracilaria cultivation would increase to 77.8-191.4 kilotons per year from 2021 to2030,thereby could contribute considerably in the achievement of China's carbon peak goal.Under a scenario of producing ruminant green feed with additional Gracilaria cultivation,each ton of macroalgae is predicted to reduce carbon emission(i.e.,methane)by 0.33-0.68 tons.Thus,marine macroalgae cultivation might form a synergistic chain of"carbon sink increase-water purification-economy-methane reduction".This study proposes a synergistic new model that operates through marine macroalgae cultivation,economic aquaculture,and green feed production.

Methane Adsorption Capacity Reduction Process of Water-Bearing Shale Samples and Its Influencing Factors: One Example of Silurian Longmaxi Formation Shale from the Southern Sichuan Basin in China

Due to the existence of water content in shale reservoir,it is quite meaningful to clarify the effect of water content on the methane adsorption capacity(MAC)of shale.However,the role of spatial configuration relationship between organic matter(OM)and clay minerals in the MAC reduction process is still unclear.The Silurian Longmaxi Formation shale samples from the Southern Sichuan Basin in China were prepared at five relative humidity(RH)conditions(0%,16%,41%,76%,99%)and the methane adsorption experiments were conducted on these water-bearing shale samples to clarify the MAC reduction process considering the spatial configuration relationship between clay minerals and OM and establish the empirical model to fit the stages.Total organic carbon(TOC)content and mineral compositions were analyzed and the pore structures of these shale samples were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy(FE-SEM),N2 adsorption and high-pressure mercury intrusion porosimetry(HPMIP).The results showed that the MAC reduction of clay minerals in OM occurred at different RH conditions from that of clay minerals outside OM.Furthermore,the amount of MAC reduction of shale samples prepared at the same RH condition was negatively related with clay content,which indicated the protection role of clay minerals for the MAC of water-bearing shale samples.The MAC reduction process was generally divided into three stages for siliceous and clayey shale samples.And the MAC of OM started to decline during stage(1)for calcareous shale sample mainly because water could enter OM pores more smoothly through hydrophobic pathway provided by carbonate minerals than through hydrophilic clay mineral pores.Overall,this study will contribute to improving the evaluation method of shale gas reserve.