Methane hydrate formation in the SiC foam ceramics packed reactor in presence of β-cyclodextrin

Abstract

Cyclodextrins were used as environmental friendly additives in enhancing the kinetics of gas hydrate formation. Effects of β-Cyclodextrin (Beta-CD) on methane hydrate formation in the SiC foam ceramics packed reactor were evaluated in this paper. To investigate the roles of these additives played in the enhancement of hydrate formation kinetics, different concentrations of Beta-CD and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) mixed solution were used in the gas hydrate formation system. The overall results demonstrated that the addition of Beta-CD promoted the formation of methane hydrate. Compared with the control experiments with only 200 ppm SDS and SFC packings, the induction time for methane hydrate formation was shortened by 97.6 % when 1000 ppm Beta-CD was added, while the maximum gas consumption rate and water conversion rate were increased by up to 284.2 % and 102.0 %, respectively. Results showed that simultaneous usage of Beta-CD, SDS and SFC packings enhanced the methane hydrate formation kinetics.