Phase equilibrium temperature and dissociation enthalpy in the tri-n-butylalkylphosphonium bromide semiclathrate hydrate systems

Abstract

Semiclathrate hydrate (SCH) is one of the phase change materials suitable for cold storage. The thermodynamic properties of SCHs, such as an equilibrium temperature and a dissociation enthalpy, depend on the size and shape of guest substances. In this study, to reveal the effect of cation size and shape on the thermodynamic properties, tri-n-butylalkylphosphonium bromide (P444R-Br) SCHs, where the alkyl group was n-propyl (R = 3), n-butyl (R = 4), n-pentyl (R = 5), i-butyl (R = i-4), i-pentyl (R = i-5), or allyl (R = Al)), were investigated. The branched alkyl groups (R = i-4 or i-5) raised the equilibrium temperature, whereas the shorter alkyl groups (R = 3 or Al) lowered one. Except for P4445-Br and P444(Al)-Br SCHs, the other P444R-Br SCHs had the same orthorhombic structure. Among the orthorhombic systems in the present study, the semiclathrate hydrate with a higher equilibrium temperature had a larger dissociation enthalpy.