Dynamic Breathing of CO₂ by Hydrotalcite

The carbon cycle of carbonate solids (e.g., limestone) involves weathering and metamorphic events, which usually occur over millions of years. Here we show that carbonate anion intercalated layered double hydroxide (LDH), a class of hydrotalcite, undergoes an ultrarapid carbon cycle with uptake of atmospheric CO₂ under ambient conditions. The use of ¹³C-labeling enabled monitoring by IR spectroscopy of the dynamic exchange between initially intercalated ¹³C-labeled carbonate anions and carbonate anions derived from atmospheric CO₂. Exchange is promoted by conditions of low humidity with a half-life of exchange of ∼24 h. Since hydrotalcite-like clay minerals exist in Nature, our finding implies that the global carbon cycle involving exchange between lithosphere and atmosphere is much more dynamic than previously thought