Why is zeta potential not a critical water quality measurement?
All life on land, including the survival of humanity, depends upon marine life in the world’s oceans, yet 25% of all oceans are covered by dead zones (HNLC, high nutrient low chlorophyll) (https://lnkd.in/eAENaEGH) and 83% of the Southern Ocean. HNLC zones are expanding at a rate of 2% year on year. The Southern Ocean is heading rapidly for a crash, and it will probably drag down all the other oceans. This is happening now !!!!!
Now a new study (supported by other studies) confirms the oceans are getting darker. Without light, marine life will die; with marine life, terrestrial life will die. The report states that darkness events are often triggered by storms, floods, sediment plumes or algal blooms and ultimately climate change.
None of the studies have ever measured the zeta potential of particles in the water; this is a fundamental water quality parameter which has been completely ignored. The zeta potential is a measure of the charge potential and reaction between particles and colloidal suspensions. If you have cloudy dark water, it means the zeta potential is high (probably a negative charge), the redox potential and oxygen concentration are low, and the surfactant concentration is high. With the information, you can then start to understand the reason for the darkening ocean.
This is not new science; it’s basic water chemistry which has been neglected by marine scientists. I discussed a solution to drop the zeta potential and increase the oxidation potential of the oceans on a global scale. https://lnkd.in/eD7xj5xK using trivalent ferric/silicate mineral olivine.
There are solutions that will work; they just need to be implemented…