Recovering methane from quartz sand-bearing hydrate with gaseous CO_2

The replacement method by CO_2 is regarded as a new approach to natural gas hydrate(NGH) exploitation method, by which methane production and carbon dioxide sequestration might be obtained simultaneously. In this study, CO_2 was used to recover CH_4 from hydrate reservoirs at different temperatures and pressures. During the CO_2–CH_4 recovery process, the pressure was selected from 2.1 to 3.4 MPa, and the temperature ranged from 274.2 to 281.2 K. Calculating the fugacity differences between the gas phase and the hydrate phase for CO_2 and CH_4 at different conditions, it has found rising pressure was positive for hydrates formation process that was helpful for the improvement of CH_4 recovery rate. Rising temperature promoted the trend of CH_4 hydrate decomposition for the whole process of CO_2–CH_4replacement.The highest recovery rate was 46.6 % at 3.4 MPa 281.2 K for CO_2–CH_4replacement reaction in this work.     

Phase Transition of a Structure II Cubic Clathrate Hydrate to a Tetragonal Form

The crystal structure and phase transition of cubic structure II (sII) binary clathrate hydrates of methane (CH₄) and propanol are reported from powder X‐ray diffraction measurements. The deformation of host water cages at the cubic–tetragonal phase transition of 2‐propanol+CH₄ hydrate, but not 1‐propanol+CH₄ hydrate, was observed below about 110 K. It is shown that the deformation of the host water cages of 2‐propanol+CH₄ hydrate can be explained by the restriction of the motion of 2‐propanol within the 5¹²6⁴ host water cages. This result provides a low‐temperature structure due to a temperature‐induced symmetry‐lowering transition of clathrate hydrate. This is the first example of a cubic structure of the common clathrate hydrate families at a fixed composition.     

Temperature- and Pressure-induced Structural Transition of Binary Clathrate Hydrates

We discover new structure II (sII) hydrate forming agents of two C₄H₈O molecules (2-methyl-2-propen-1-ol and 2-butanone) and report the abnormal structural transition of binary C₄H₈O+CH₄ hydrates between structure I (sI) and sII with varying temperature and pressure conditions. In both (2-methyl-2-propen-1-ol+CH₄) and (2-butanone+CH₄) systems, the phase boundary of the two different hydrate phases (sI and sII) exists at the slope change of the phase-equilibrium curve in the semi-logarithmic plots. We confirm the crystal structures of two hydrates synthesized at low (278 K and 6 MPa) and high (286 K and 15 MPa) temperature and pressure conditions by using high-resolution powder diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. 2-Methyl-2-propen-1-ol and 2-butanone can occupy the large cages of sII hydrate at low temperature and pressure conditions; however, they are excluded from the hydrate phase at high temperature and pressure conditions, resulting in the formation of pure sI CH₄ hydrate.     

Direct Conversion of Methane with Carbon Dioxide Mediated by RhVO3− Cluster Anions

Direct conversion of methane with carbon dioxide to value‐added chemicals is attractive but extremely challenging because of the thermodynamic stability and kinetic inertness of both molecules. Herein, the first dinuclear cluster species, RhVO₃^?, has been designed to mediate the co‐conversion of CH₄ and CO₂ to oxygenated products, CH₃OH and CH₂O, in the temperature range of 393–600 K. The resulting cluster ions RhVO₃CO^? after CH₃OH formation can further desorb the [CO] unit to regenerate the RhVO₃^? cluster, leading to the successful establishment of a catalytic cycle for methanol production from CH₄ and CO₂ (CH₄+CO₂→CH₃OH+CO). The exceptional activity of Rh‐V dinuclear oxide cluster (RhVO₃^?) identified herein provides a new mechanism for co‐conversion of two very stable molecules CH₄ and CO₂.     

Study on the recovery of hydrogen from refinery (hydrogen + methane) gas mixtures using hydrate technology

A novel technique for separating hydrogen from (H2 CH4) gas mixtures through hydrate formation/dissociation was proposed. In this work, a systematic experimental study was performed on the separation of hydrogen from (H2 CH4) feed mixtures with various hydrogen contents (mole fraction x = 40%-90%). The experimental results showed that the hydrogen content could be enriched to as high as ~94% for various feed mixtures using the proposed hydrate technology under a temperature slightly above 0℃ and a pressure below 5.0 MPa. With the addition of a small amount of suitable additives, the rate of hydrate formation could be increased significantly. Anti-agglomeration was used to disperse hydrate particles into the condensate phase. Instead of preventing hydrate growth (as in the kinetic inhibitor tests), hydrates were allowed to form, but only as small dispersed particles. Anti-agglomeration could keep hydrate particles suspended in a range of condensate types at 1℃ and 5 MPa in the water-in-oil emulsion.     

Toward a comprehensive mechanism for methanol pyrolysis

A single kinetic mechanism for methanol pyrolysis is tested against multiple sets of experimental data for the first time. Data are considered from static, flow, and shock tube reactors, covering temperatures of 973 to 2000 K and pressures of 0.3 to 1 atmosphere. The model results are highly sensitive to the rates of unimolecular fuel decomposition and of various chain termination reactions that remove CH₂OH and H radicals, as well as to experimental temperature uncertainties. The secondary fuel decomposition reaction CH₃OH = CH₂OH + H, which has previously been included only in mechanisms for high temperature conditions, is found to have a significant effect at low temperatures as well, through radical recombination. The reaction CH₃O + C = CH₃ + CO₂, rather than CH₃OH + H = CH₃ + H₂O, is found to be the dominant source of CH₃ at low temperatures. The reverse of CH₃ + OH = CH₂OH + H is important to CH₃ production at high temperatures.     

Hydrate capture CO2 from shifted synthesis gas,flue gas and sour natural gas or biogas

CO₂ capture by hydrate formation is a novel gas separation technology, by which CO₂ is selectively engaged in the cages of hydrate and is separated with other gases, based on the differences of phase equilibrium for CO₂ and other gases. However, rigorous temperature and pressure, high energy cost and industrialized hydration separator dragged the development of the hydrate based CO₂ capture. In this paper, the key problems in CO₂ capture from the different sources such as shifted synthesis gas, flue gas and sour natural gas or biogas were analyzed. For shifted synthesis gas and flue gas, its high energy consumption is the barrier, and for the sour natural gas or biogas (CO₂/CH₄ system), the bottleneck is how to enhance the selectivity of CO₂ hydration. For these gases, scale-up is the main difficulty. Also, this paper explored the possibility of separating different gases by selective hydrate formation and reviewed the progress of CO₂ separation from shifted synthesis gas, flue gas and sour natural gas or biogas.     

Micro-Raman investigations of mixed gas hydrates

We report laser Raman spectroscopic measurements on mixed hydrates (clathrates), with guest molecules tetrahydrofuran (THF) and methane (CH₄), at ambient pressure and at temperatures from 175 to 280 K. Gas hydrates were synthesized with different concentrations of THF ranging from 5.88 to 1.46 mol%. In all cases THF molecules occupied the large cages of sII hydrate. The present studies demonstrate formation of sII clathrates with CH₄ molecules occupying unfilled cages for concentrations of THF ranging from 5.88 to 2.95 mol%. The Raman spectral signature of hydrates with 1.46 mol% THF are distinctly different; hydrate growth was non-uniform and structural transformation occurred from sII to sI prior to clathrate melting.     

Reactions of methyl radicals with acetaldehyde and acetaldehyde-d1. II. BEBO calculations of the temperature dependence of the rate constants

The BEBO method was used to calculate the kinetic isotope effect for formyl-hydrogen abstraction from acetaldehyde by methyl radicals. The calculated isotope effect and experimental ratios of the rate constants obtained at 785°K for the reactions of CH₃ with CH₃CHO and CH₃CDO, together with the theoretical temperature dependence of the specific rates (as formulated by the BEBO theory), were used to obtain rate constants for the steps CH₃ + CH₃CHO → CH₄ + CH₃CO (2a), CH₃ + CH₃CHO → CH₄ + CH₂CHO (2b), and CH₃ + CH₃CDO → CH₃D + CH₃CO (1a) between 298 and 1224°K. It was shown that the curvature apparent in the Arrhenius plot of the rate coefficient k₂ reported for the reaction of methyl radicals with acetaldehyde in the temperature range of 298–1224°K is caused both by the simultaneous contribution of steps (2a) and (2b) to methane formation, and by the curvature in the Arrhenius plots of the two elementary rate constants themselves. The predicted curve agrees well with the experimental data, especially if the tunneling correction is applied.     

Experimental observations on the competing effect of tetrahydrofuran and an electrolyte and the strength of hydrate inhibition among metal halides in mixed CO2 hydrate equilibria

In the present work, experimental data on the equilibrium conditions of mixed CO₂ and THF hydrates in aqueous electrolyte solutions are reported. Seven different electrolytes (metal halides) were used in this work namely sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCl₂), magnesium chloride (MgCl₂), potassium bromide (KBr), sodium fluoride (NaF), potassium chloride (KCl), and sodium bromide (NaBr). All equilibrium data were measured by using Cailletet apparatus. Throughout this work, the overall concentration of CO₂ and THF were kept constant at (0.04 and 0.05) mol fraction, respectively, while the concentration of electrolytes were varied. The experimental temperature ranged from (275 to 305) K and pressure up 7.10 MPa had been applied. From the experimental results, it is concluded that THF, which is soluble in water is able to suppress the salt inhibiting effect in the range studied. In all quaternary systems studied, a four-phase hydrate equilibrium line was observed where hydrate (H), liquid water (L_W), liquid organic (L_V), and vapour (V) exist simultaneously at specific pressure and temperature. The formation of this four-phase equilibrium line is mainly due to a liquid–liquid phase split of (water + THF) mixture when pressurized with CO₂ and the split is enhanced by the salting-out effect of the electrolytes in the quaternary system. The strength of hydrate inhibition effect among the electrolytes was compared. The results shows the hydrate inhibiting effect of the metal halides is increasing in the order NaF < KBr < NaCl < NaBr < CaCl₂ < MgCl₂. Among the cations studied, the strength of hydrate inhibition increases in the following order: K⁺ < Na⁺ < Ca²⁺ < Mg²⁺. Meanwhile, the strength of hydrate inhibition among the halogen anion studied decreases in the following order: Br^? > Cl^? > F^?. Based on the results, it is suggested that the probability of formation and the strength of ionic–hydrogen bond between an ion and water molecule and the effects of this bond on the ambient water network are the major factors that contribute to hydrate inhibition by electrolytes.     

Effective enhancement of selectivities and capacities for CO2 over CH4 and N2 of polymers of intrinsic microporosity via postsynthesis metalation

A series of metalized C-PIM-M (M = Na⁺, Mg²⁺, Al³⁺, PIMs = polymers of intrinsic microporosity) materials were prepared from a carboxyl-functionalized PIM (C-PIMs). The C-PIM-Na exhibited a high CO₂ adsorption capacity of 2.44 mmol/g and extreme low CH₄ uptake of 0.28 mmol/g at 273 K and 101 kPa among three metallated PIMs. It showed remarkably high CO₂/CH₄ and CO₂/N₂ selectivities at both 273 and 293 K due to an advantageous pore-blocking effect of Na⁺ cation.     

Thermal behavior of Mg–Al–CO3 layered double hydroxide characterized by emanation thermal analysis

Emanation thermal analysis (ETA) was used to characterize microstructure changes during heating of Mg–Al–CO₃ layered double hydroxide (LDH) in the temperature range of 293–1473 K. It was confirmed by ETA that the formation of an intermediate phase with grafted CO₃^2– anions in the hydroxide layers took place in the temperature range of 508–523 K and the formation of Mg–Al mixed oxide (MO) occurred in the range 623–773 K. The small peak of the emanation rate at 603 K indicated the degradation of the layered structure and the broad peak in the range of 1073–1273 K characterized the onset of the separation of the decomposition products of MO into MgO and Mg₂Al₄O₇. The ETA results revealed that dehydration of the product with grafted CO₃^2– anions occurred at lower temperatures than that of the initial Mg–Al–CO₃ LDH.     

An efficient model for the prediction of CO2 hydrate phase stability conditions in the presence of inhibitors and their mixtures

A thermodynamic model for the prediction of CO₂ hydrate phase stability conditions in the presence of pure and mixed salts solutions and various ionic liquids (ILs) is developed. In the proposed model van der Waals and Platteeuw model is used to compute the hydrate phase, Peng–Robinson equation of state (PR-EoS) for the gas phase and the Pitzer–Mayorga–Zavitsas-Hydration model is employed to calculate the water activity in the liquid water phase. This model is an extension of the model developed by Tumba et al. (2011) for the prediction of methane and CO₂ hydrate phase stability conditions in the presence of tributylmethylphosphonium methylsulfate IL solution. Shabani et al. (2011) mixing rule is modified by incorporating the water–inhibitor (salt/IL) interaction parameter to calculate the water activity in mixed salt solutions. The model predictions are also calculated using the Pitzer–Mayorga model separately and compared with predictions of the developed model. The model predictions are compared with experimental results on the phase stability of CO₂ hydrate in the presence of ILs, pure and mixed salts as reported in literatures. The ILs are chosen from imidazolium cationic family with various anion groups such as bromide (Br), tetrafluoroborate (BF₄), trifluoromethanesulfonate (TfO), and nitrate (NO₃) and the common salts such as NaCl, KCl and CaCl₂. Good agreement between the developed model predictions and the literature data is observed. The overall average absolute deviation (AARD%) with Pitzer–Mayorga–Zavitsas-Hydration model is observed to be within ±1.36% while Pitzer–Mayorga model accuracy were about ±1.44 %. Further, the model is extended to calculate the inhibition effect of selected inhibitors (ILs and salts) on CO₂ hydrate formation.     

Probing the pyrolysis of methyl formate in the dilute gas phase by synchrotron radiation and theory

The thermal dissociation of the atmospheric constituent methyl formate was probed by coupling pyrolysis with imaging photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy (iPEPICO) using synchrotron VUV radiation at the Swiss Light Source (SLS). iPEPICO allows threshold photoelectron spectra to be obtained for pyrolysis products, distinguishing isomers and separating ionic and neutral dissociation pathways. In this work, the pyrolysis products of dilute methyl formate, CH₃OC(O)H, were elucidated to be CH₃OH + CO, 2 CH₂O and CH₄ + CO₂ as in part distinct from the dissociation of the radical cation (CH₃OH^+• + CO and CH₂OH⁺ + HCO). Density functional theory, CCSD(T), and CBS-QB3 calculations were used to describe the experimentally observed reaction mechanisms, and the thermal decomposition kinetics and the competition between the reaction channels are addressed in a statistical model. One result of the theoretical model is that CH₂O formation was predicted to come directly from methyl formate at temperatures below 1200 K, while above 1800 K, it is formed primarily from the thermal decomposition of methanol.     

Appealing sheath-core spun high-performance composite carbon molecular sieve membranes

Carbon molecular sieve (CMS) membranes are attractive candidates to meet requirements for challenging gas separations. The added ability to maintain such intrinsic properties in an asymmetric morphology with a structure that we term a “Pseudo Wheel+Hub & Spoke” asymmetric form offers new opportunities. For CMS membrane, specifically, the structure provides both selective layer support and low flow resistance even for high feed pressures and fluxes in CO₂ removal from natural gas. This capability is unavailable to even rigid glassy polymers due to the much higher modulus of CMS materials. Combining precursor asymmetric hollow fiber formation and optimized pyrolysis creates a defect free CMS proof-of-concept membrane for this application. Facile formation of the sheath-core spun precursor with a 6FDA-DAM sheath and Matrimid® core also avoids the need to seal defects before or after the carbonization of the precursors. The composite CMS membrane shows CO₂/CH₄ (50 : 50) mixed gas feed with an attractive CO₂/CH₄ selectivity of 64.3 and CO₂ permeance of 232 GPU at 35 °C. A key additional benefit of the approach is reduction in use of the more costly high performance 6FDA-DAM in a composite sheath-core CMS membrane with the “Pseudo Wheel+Hub & Spoke” structure.     

Shock‐tube and modeling study of acetaldehyde pyrolysis and oxidation

Pyrolysis and oxidation of acetaldehyde were studied behind reflected shock waves in the temperature range 1000–1700 K at total pressures between 1.2 and 2.8 atm. The study was carried out using the following methods, (1) time‐resolved IR‐laser absorption at 3.39 μm for acetaldehyde decay and CH‐compound formation rates, (2) time‐resolved UV absorption at 200 nm for CH₂CO and C₂H₄ product formation rates, (3) time‐resolved UV absorption at 216 nm for CH₃ formation rates, (4) time‐resolved UV absorption at 306.7 nm for OH radical formation rate, (5) time‐resolved IR emission at 4.24 μm for the CO₂ formation rate, (6) time‐resolved IR emission at 4.68 μm for the CO and CH₂CO formation rate, and (7) a single‐pulse technique for product yields. From a computer‐simulation study, a 178‐reaction mechanism that could satisfactorily model all of our data was constructed using new reactions, CH₃CHO (+M) → CH₄ + CO (+M), CH₃CHO (+M) → CH₂CO + H₂(+M), H + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + H₂, CH₃ + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + CH₄, O₂ + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + HO₂, O + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + OH, OH + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + H₂O, HO₂ + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + H₂O₂, having assumed or evaluated rate constants. The submechanisms of methane, ethylene, ethane, formaldehyde, and ketene were found to play an important role in acetaldehyde oxidation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 40: 73–102, 2008     

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 with H2O on TiO2 and Cu/TiO2 catalysts

Photoinduced reduction of CO₂ by H₂O to produce CH₄ and CH₃OH has been investigated on wellcharacterized standard TiO₂ catalysts and on a Cu²⁺ loaded TiO₂ catalyst. The efficiency of this photoreaction depends strongly on the kind of catalyst and the ratio of H₂O to CO₂. Anatase TiO₂, which has a large band gap and numerous surface OH groups, shows high efficiency for photocatalytic CH₄ formation. Photogenerated Ti³⁺ ions, H and CH₃ radicals are observed as reactive intermediates, by ESR at 77 K. Cu-loading of the small, powdered TiO₂ catalyst (Cu/TiO₂) brings about additional formation of CH₃OH. XPS studies suggest that Cu⁺ plays a significant role in CH₃OH formation.     

Equilibria in Cu(CH3CO2)2-pyridine-water system. Spectrophotometric,conductometric, and EPR study of the Cu(CH3CO2)2-pyridine-water system

Electronic spectra (340–800 nm; 298.2 K), liquid (298.2 K) and frozen solution (77 K) EPR spectra and electrolytic conductivities (298.2 K) have been measured for Cu(CH₃CO₂)₂ over the whole range of compositions of the mixed pyridine-water solvent. The results have been interpreted in terms of the possible coordination equilibria in the solution. They support the strong tendency of the Cu^II ion to coordinate pyridine molecules in aqueous solutions, revealed by other Cu^II salts. Even small amounts of pyridine were found to withdraw the electrolytic dissociation of the aqueous Cu(CH₃CO₂)₂ solutions, probably, through the enhancement of the Cu^II ion interactions.     

Kinetics of methyl radical reaction with methanol at 20–105 K

The kinetics of the reaction CH₃ + CH₃OH - CH₄ + CH₂OH has been studied by electron spin resonance at 20–105 K over the time scale of 0.2 s to 10 h. The kinetic curves are non-exponential over the time range studied. They coincide in the initial stage below 87 K, then diverge throughout the temperature range investigated. The temperature dependence of the shape of the kinetic curves has been analyzed.     

FT‐IR kinetic and product study of the Br‐initiated oxidation of dimethyl sulfide

An FT‐IR kinetic and product study of the Br‐atom‐initiated oxidation of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) has been performed in a large‐volume reaction chamber at 298 K and 1000‐mbar total pressure as a function of the bath gas composition (N₂ + O₂). In the kinetic investigations using the relative kinetic method, considerable scatter was observed between individual determinations of the rate coefficient, suggesting the possibility of interference from secondary chemistry in the reaction system involving dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) formation. Despite the experimental difficulties, an overall bimolecular rate coefficient for the reaction of Br atoms with DMS under atmospheric conditions at 298 K of ≤1 × 10⁻¹³ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ can be deduced. The major sulfur products observed included SO₂, CH₃SBr, and DMSO. The kinetic observations in combination with the product studies under the conditions employed are consistent with rapid addition of Br atoms to DMS forming an adduct that mainly re‐forms reactants but can also decompose unimolecularly to form CH₃SBr and CH₃ radicals. The observed formation of DMSO is attributed to reactions of BrO radicals with DMS rather than reaction of the Br–DMS adduct with O₂ as has been previously speculated and is thought to be responsible for the variability of the measured rate coefficient. The reaction CH₃O₂ + Br → BrO + CH₃O is postulated as the source of BrO radicals. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 883–893, 1999