Green-house gas storage through enhanced hydrate formation

Abstract

The CO₂ hydrate formation in the presence of different tetrahydrofuran (THF), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and methyl ester sulfonate (MES) concentrations was investigated in terms of kinetics and thermodynamics. The formation experiment was conducted in the quiescent condition and close system at 3 MPa and 3 °C. The results showed that the CO₂ hydrates formed in the presence of 10 mol% THF, while it did not form with 5.56 mol% THF. The presence of SDS or MES did not promote the hydrate formation. However, the hydrates formed in the presence of a mixture of SDS or MES with 5.56 mol% THF. The result showed that CO₂ uptake with THF combined with SDS or MES was twice higher than that with 10 mol% THF, whereas THF combined with MES resulted in lower induction time than THF combined with SDS. Conversely, using a mixture of MES or SDS at the critical micelle concentration (CMC) and 5.56 mol% THF did not promote the hydrates formation. Surprisingly, the hydrates can form with the presence of MES or SDS at CMC and 4.5 mol% THF at the same experimental condition.