Promoting effect of super absorbent polymer on hydrate formation

The effect of super absorbent polymer (SAP) on the formation of tetrahydrofuran (THF) hydrate was studied by the successional cooling method. It was found that THF solution samples with 0.004 wt% and 0.03 wt% of SAP formed THF hydrate completely during the same cooling process. The corresponding induction time was 16-29 min, 14-31 min, respectively, which was obviously shorter than that of THF solution samples without SAP (25-62 min). It indicated that SAP accelerated the formation of THF hydrate. At the same time, the pictures of hydrate formation with and without SAP had been compared. It was found that SAP did not change the morphology of the hydrate. Finally, the mechanism of SAP promoting effect on the formation of THF hydrate was suggested.