sequestering

Sequestering is the act of setting apart, isolating, or removing something from general use or contact. The term is used in several fields with related but distinct meanings, all centered on the idea of separation or confinement for a purpose.

In environmental science, sequestering most often refers to sequestration of carbon dioxide, a process intended to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations. Carbon sequestration can be geological, where CO2 is captured and stored in deep rock formations or saline aquifers; terrestrial, through the growth and storage of carbon in forests, soils, and other biomatter; or, less commonly, oceanic, involving the transfer and retention of carbon in marine systems. The effectiveness of sequestration depends on permanence, monitoring, and potential leakage.

In law, sequestering has two main uses. Juror sequestration involves keeping a jury isolated from outside influences during a trial to ensure an impartial verdict. Sequestration of assets or property refers to court-ordered custody or seizure to secure a claim or ensure payment, often pursued under a writ of sequestration.

In biology and medicine, sequestration describes the isolation and storage of substances within cells or tissues. This can include the sequestration of metals, toxins, or metabolic byproducts to prevent interference with normal cellular function, and it can occur as a normal physiological process or as part of a disease state.

Etymology traces the word to Latin sequestrare, meaning to set apart. The form sequestering emphasizes the ongoing act of separating or isolating.