Using Alcohol Vapor as Catalyst for Synthesizing Methane Hydrate

摘要

We found that the amount of methane hydrates formed during synthesisrncan substantially increase, if trace alcohol vapor (methanol, ethanol orrn1-propanol) is added to the Ice-Seed system during the “pressurization”rnstage. Among them, ethanol has the best promoting effect when therninitial system temperature is around 270K. Nearly 91% of the ice seedsrncan be converted during this stage. Furthermore, the duration of thern“heating” stage can be shortened while consuming the remaining ice.rnEthanol also has similar catalytic effect for synthesizing carbon dioxidernhydrate. This discovery may have practical value for the transportationrnand storage of natural gas.