Application of metal organic frameworks for the inhibition of CO2 hydrates in gas dominated pipelines

Abstract

The flow assurance problem caused due to the hydrate blockage is a major challenge in gas dominated pipeline flow (natural gas pipelines and CO2 sequestration pipelines). To make the hydrate inhibition economical during the pipeline flow, the use of effective low dosage hydrate inhibitor is the most crucial factor. To prevent the CO2 hydrate formation and blockage in the gas dominated pipelines the use of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2 is presented in this research work. The UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2 were synthesized using hydrothermal synthesis method and characterized using scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images, powder X-Ray diffraction (PXRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The synthesized MOFs were tested for CO2 hydrate inhibition in sapphire rocking cell. Both the MOFs were tested at concentrations of 0.25% w/v and 0.5% w/v. The increase in concentration of UiO-66-NH2 showed enhanced CO2 hydrate inhibition efficiency. UiO-66-NH2 was found to be much more effective in CO2 hydrate inhibition in comparison to UiO-66 during the tests.