The REPAIRS project is connected to the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) initiative termed ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE). The objective of OAE is to abate the rate of planetary warming due to the burning of fossil fuels by increasing the rate of atmospheric CO₂ uptake by the oceans. While large scale implementation of OAE is currently hypothetical, there is a need to better understand the processes and secondary effects of OAE techniques before full consideration can be given.

The processes for OAE are either the electrochemical production of NaOH, or the more applicable method of enhanced weathering, which relies on the dissolution of Mg-silicate and calcium-based rocks that add buffering ions (carbonate and hydroxide) to the surface ocean. If successful, the increased disequilibrium between atmospheric CO₂ and the surface ocean would lead to an increased rate of CO₂ uptake by the ocean.

What remains unknown with this form of OAE are the side-effects of adding alkaline minerals to the ocean as well as the dissolution kinetics of various alkaline minerals and secondary precipitation rates. This study specifically investigates the potential subsidiary effects that could arise chemically and biologically from OAE while filling the gaps-in-knowledge as stated by the Ocean visions consortium and the NASEM report (2021).

The overall objective of the REPAIRS project is to study the effects of excess dissolved alkaline minerals and heavy metals released from Olivine and Lime on bivalve growth and development while simultaneously assessing the rate and efficacy of mineral dissolution on alkalinity modification.