But the test has run into issues ... You dump alkaline material into the ocean (in this case sodium hydroxide), which…This ...

A few drops of dilute sodium hydroxide solution react to form a white precipitate with aluminium ions, calcium ions and magnesium ions. However, if excess sodium hydroxide solution is added ...

Fat molecules contain three ester links. These can be hydrolysed when they are heated with sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. This results in the formation of glycerol and a salt - soap.