Potential impacts of deep-sea injection of CO2 on marine organic chemistry

The extent of reaction of epoxides in saltwater changed markedly through introduction of gaseous or liquid CO2. Higher levels of β-chlorohydrins in carbonated saltwater compared with those in saltwater alone were attributed to greater acidity of the aqueous phase. This suggests that regimes for sequestration of CO2 by deep sea injection should take account of potential effects on marine organic chemistry. No evidence was obtained for enhanced nucleophilicity of the chloride ion through potential desolvation at the CO2–water interface.