Separation of Methane from Coal Bed Gas via Hydrate Formation in the Presence of Tetrahydrofuran and Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate

Abstract

We propose a novel technology for separation of methane from oxygen-containing coal bed gas via hydrate formation from solutions of promoters: tetrahydrofuran and sodium dodecyl sulfate. Experiments on methane separation from a model gas were conducted at different initial pressures. As shown by the results, hydrate formation in the presence of tetrahydrofuran and concentration of the methane are possible at a temperature of 5°C and a pressure of 0.3 MPa. The methane concentration can be raised from 16.45% to 61.7%. If the pressure is reduced from 1 MPa down to 0.3 MPa with no change in temperature, the selectivity of methane separation increases.