décarbonater

A chemistry and industrial term meaning to remove carbonates from a substance — commonly water treatment (décarbonater l'eau) or cement and lime production — distinct from décarboner, which is about carbon dioxide emissions rather than carbonate minerals.

• L'usine décarbonate l'eau avant de la réutiliser dans le circuit. — The plant decarbonates the water before reusing it in the system.
• Ce procédé industriel permet de décarbonater le calcaire. — This industrial process decarbonates limestone.
• L'eau décarbonatée est moins susceptible d'entartrer les canalisations. — Decarbonated water is less likely to scale up pipes.

Easy to confuse with décarboner (to cut carbon emissions) because the words look almost identical — décarbonater is strictly about removing carbonate minerals from water or industrial processes, a different chemical concept.

Often confused with décarboner.