Pellet Formation Research Articles

Development of a PXIe-based data acquisition and control system for hydrogen pellet injection system

A data acquisition and control (DAC) system has been developed for the solid hydrogen pellet injection system. This injector is a gas gun type injector, where solid hydrogen pellet ice is formed using a closed cycle cryocooler, and high-pressure helium gas or a pneumatic punch is used to dislodge the pellet. The DAC system is based on National Instrument's embedded controller NI PXIe-8133, along with associated I/O DAC cards and the LabVIEW application. A graphical user interface (GUI) developed using LabVIEW software allows users to remotely control the pellet formation and injection process. The data is stored locally on a desktop computer or in cloud storage for further analysis. The images of the injected pellet were obtained by using a Phantom V-1210 high-speed camera at 100-Killo FPS, which reveals the size and speed of the pellet. The developed DAC system provides the flexibility needed to operate the injector remotely during the plasma discharge in a tokamak environment. The injector setup system has been successfully tested in a test bench operation, and it will be integrated with the ADITYA-U tokamak.

Characterization and Comparison of Anammox Immobilization in Polyvinyl Alcohol, Polyethylene Glycol and Water-Borne Polyurethane

Anammox bacteria were embedded with different mass fractions of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and water-based polyurethane (WPU) materials. The embedded immobilized pellets with different particle sizes of about 2.8–3.2 mm were prepared. The effects of the mass fraction of the embedding material (PVA 6–12%, PEG 6–9%, WPU 10%) and the concentration of activated carbon added in the embedding process (0–4%) on the pellet was investigated. The performance of pellet formation, sedimentation rate, mechanical strength, expansion coefficient, and elasticity were compared and analyzed under different immobilization conditions, and the parameters of each embedding step were optimized. Anammox immobilized pellets prepared with 10% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), 2% sodium alginate (SA), and 2% powdered activated carbon were proposed. The effects of salinity on anammox were investigated through a batch test, and the optimal reaction conditions were selected to carry out the operation test. The functional groups of embedded and unembedded anammox sludge were detected using the infrared spectrum. A continuous flow sequencing batch reactor (SBR) demonstrated stable operation with immobilized anammox. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the immobilized anammox pellets appeared as irregular particles, with each micro-unit predominantly being spherical. Additionally, a minor presence of rod-shaped bacteria was also noted. After 30 days of stable operation of the reactor, the ammonia nitrogen removal rate reached 84.7%.

The integration and tests of the shattered pellet injection system on EAST

A SPI system specifically designed for EAST has been integrated and commissioned to carry out plasma rapid shutdown. This system is capable of injecting pellets with quantities ranging from 7 to 14 Pa m3 and at velocities between 150 and 400 m/s, as determined after conducting a series of bench tests. A two-stage differential pumping system designed to remove the propellant gas has had its efficiency assessed through the application of pumping equations and the fourth-order Runge-Kutta routine. For the purpose of facilitating remote control of the SPI system, a control system based on EPICS has been developed. This system enables an automated workflow for pellet formation and launch, which includes stages such as pellet formation, strengthening pellet, awaiting trigger, launching pellet, baking gun barrel, and cooling cold head, with the entire process taking 600 s. Furthermore, rapid shutdown experiments using Ne shattered pellet injection have been conducted, demonstrating the system's high reliability and reproducibility on EAST.

Exploring the potential of Aspergillus terreus 2021, WLL-ISO: A dual-functional agent for heavy metal removal and self-aggregation in wastewater treatment

This study investigates the potential of Aspergillus terreus strain 2021, WLL-ISO, isolated from Cu2+-rich wastewater, for heavy metal removal and spheroidization. Phylogenetic analysis, supported by biochemical characterization, reveals its close affiliation with A. terreus. The fungus exhibits robust growth and diverse substrate utilization. Notably, it achieves complete removal of Cu2+ from solutions (initial concentrations: 10–50 mg/L) alongside self-spheroidization. The resulting pellets display enhanced settleability and a porous structure conducive to heavy metal adsorption. Langmuir and Freundlich models confirm the fungus’s high affinity and capacity for heavy metal adsorption, particularly Cu2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, and Fe2+. EPS analysis reveals significant compositional alterations under heavy metal stress, impacting pellet formation. Three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix spectrum analysis detects activation of humic acid-like organics in response to Cu2+ stress. Moreover, the fungus exhibits promising Cu2+ removal from real wastewater, highlighting its practical potential in heavy metal remediation. The self-aggregating nature of the fungus presents opportunities for the recycling of adsorbents post-heavy metal adsorption, enhancing the sustainability of the remediation process.

An investigation into the ability of three fungi and one yeast to grow and capture nutrients in cheese whey

This study addresses the environmental and waste disposal challenges dairy processing poses, namely its most nutrient-rich byproduct – whey. Here, the potential of four fungi/yeast species (Geotrichum candidum, Penicillium corylophilum, Penicillium restrictum, Pleurotus ostreatus) was investigated for nutrient reclamation of whey and production of value-added biomass. Conducted in closed and open batch systems, the study evaluates oxygen uptake rates (OUR), biomass yields, and nutrient removal efficiencies at varying mixing speeds. Results show that pellet formation, pH changes, and biomass nutrient content were species-specific. Among the species, P. corylophilum shows promise with high biomass yields (13.21 g DW L−1, 2.0 g/g COD removed) and nutrient removal efficiencies of 26 % COD, 35 % N-tot, and 41 % P-tot. While further optimisation is needed, P. corylophilum shows potential for bioremediation and improved circularity in the dairy industry. Efficacy could be enhanced through bioreactor optimisation, such as employing a continuously fed bubble reactor.

Rapid cultivation of aerobic granular sludge for shale gas flowback water treatment by bioaugmentation with inoculating multifunctional fungal pellets

Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) technology showed great potentials in treatment of hypersaline industrial wastewater such as shale gas flowback water (SGFW), while long start-up period was still a major bottleneck. To both strengthen its granulation and pollutant removal efficiency, herein, one multifunctional fungus Aspergillus sydowii NCSL-XY1 was first isolated with the capacities including formation of fungal pellets, salt tolerance, and efficient degradation of organics in SGFW. Subsequently, its appropriate fungal pellets were used to try to shorten the start-up period of AGS in SGFW. The results showed that inoculating fungal pellets evidently accelerated the formation of AGS from 41 to 16 days. Also, it could enhance the TOC removal from ∼30% to ∼45% in the initial start-up period (Day 2-Day 11). Mechanisms analysis showed that the inoculation of fungal pellets increased EPS secretion and microbial community diversity. When the reactor stabilized, both of the AGS in R1 and R2 had similar D50 (∼1200 μm), SVI30 (∼30 mL/g), and SVI30/SVI5 (∼0.95). Also, the TOC and PAM removal in R1 and R2 were also similar and maintained at ∼71% and ∼20%. Overall, the inoculated fungal pellets played significant roles of both biomass carrier and synergistic degrader in facilitation of AGS start-up, while it had limited functions after the granules maturation. This study provided a universally effective bioaugmentation mode (screening degrading fungus and inoculating its fungal pellets) for AGS cultivation in treatment of refractory industrial wastewater.

Fumaric acid production by Rhizopus species from acid hydrolysate of oil palm empty fruit bunches.

The hemicellulosic fraction of lignocellulosic biomass is a very important material, due to the significant concentration of pentoses present in its composition and that can be used sustainably in biotechnological processes such as the production of fumaric acid. Research efforts are currently being promoted for the proper disposal and valorization of empty fruit bunches (EFB) from oil palm. In this work, seventeen Rhizopus species were evaluated in a fermentation medium with EFB hydrolyzate, without detoxification, as a carbon source for fumaric acid production. Rhizopus circicans 1475 and Rhizopus 3271 achieved productions of 5.65g.L-1 and 5.25g.L-1 of fumaric acid at 30°C, 120rpm for 96h, respectively. The percentage of consumed sugars, mainly pentoses, was 24.88% and 34.02% for R. circicans 1475 and R 3271, respectively. Soy peptone and ammonium sulfate were evaluated as nitrogen sources, where soy peptone stimulated the formation of biomass pellets while ammonium sulfate produced mycelia and clamps.

Influence of mixing technique on properties of Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 solid electrolyte prepared by the solid-state reaction - A comparison of dry 3D mixing technique with wet ball-milling

Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 (LATP) NASICON(Na Super Ion Conductive)-type solid electrolyte is prepared using conventional wet ball-milling and dry 3D mixing techniques to investigate the influence of mixing technique on properties of LATP. The mixing techniques influence impurity formation of calcined LATP powder. Thus, sintering behavior of the calcined powders is also affected by the mixing technique, i.e. LiTiPO5 formation is confirmed in the ball-milling samples and Li-ion conductive Li4P2O7 is main impurity in the 3D mixing samples. The influence is not limited to impurity formation. Uniform grains are observed in the 3D mixing pellet, contrarily, non-uniform sintering occurs in the ball-milling sample. As a result, the 3D mixing pellets demonstrate higher Li-ion conductivity than the ball-mill samples. The dry 3D mixing technique, which can omit drying process, is promising for LATP preparation owing to simplification of preparation process and a formation of high Li-ion conductive LATP pellets. Also, this study clearly shows that the mixing techniques affect ionic conductivity of the sintered LATP significantly, emphasizing importance of mixing procedure in the solid-state reaction.

Disposal of pine wood waste by pelleting with sulphate soap binder

AbstractPromising method for disposal the pine wood waste through extrusion pelleting using sulphate soap as a natural binder is considered in the article. Prior to pelleting, the wood waste requires drying to a water content of no more than 10%. Analysis of pine wood waste drying in filtration mode yielded optimal parameters: a 20 mm layer thickness, temperature of 135 °C, and drying time of 3,900 s. The optimal content of sulphate soap binder was determined to be about 20%, resulting in reduced coke residue, increased volatile components, higher calorific value, and enhanced static strength. This binder facilitates formation of pellets at lower pressures, increases calorific value, and acts as a lubricant, reducing friction and associated energy costs.

Real-time monitoring of mycelial growth in liquid culture using hyphal dispersion mutant of Aspergillus fumigatus.

Hyphal pellet formation by Aspergillus species in liquid cultures is one of the main obstacles to high-throughput anti-Aspergillus reagent screening. We previously constructed a hyphal dispersion mutant of Aspergillus fumigatus by disrupting the genes encoding the primary cell wall α-1,3-glucan synthase Ags1 and putative galactosaminogalactan synthase Gtb3 (Δags1Δgtb3). Mycelial growth of the mutant in liquid cultures monitored by optical density was reproducible, and the dose-response of hyphal growth to antifungal agents has been quantified by optical density. However, Δags1Δgtb3 still forms hyphal pellets in some rich growth media. Here, we constructed a disruptant lacking all three α-1,3-glucan synthases and galactosaminogalactan synthase (Δags1Δags2Δags3Δgtb3), and confirmed that its hyphae were dispersed in all the media tested. We established an automatic method to monitor hyphal growth of the mutant in a 24-well plate shaken with a real-time plate reader. Dose-dependent growth suppression and unique growth responses to antifungal agents (voriconazole, amphotericin B, and micafungin) were clearly observed. A 96-well plate was also found to be useful for the evaluation of mycelial growth by optical density. Our method is potentially applicable to high-throughput screening for anti-Aspergillus agents.

Wurster Technology-Assisted Step-by-Step Engineering of Multi-layered Pellets (Sprinkles): Microscopy, Micro-CT, and e-Tongue-Based Analysis.

The advancement in the formulation and characterization techniques have paved the path for development of new as well as modification of existing dosage forms. The present work explores the role of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) as advanced characterization technique for multi-layered-coated pellets to ascertain the quality of coated pellets. The work further explored in-house e-tongue technique for understanding palatability of formulation in early stages of development thus by reducing clinical taste evaluation time. The developed multi-layered-coated pellets were characterized using microscopy (optical and electron microscopy). The obtained results demonstrated formation of spherical-shaped pellets with uniform coating. The uniform coating was further confirmed by results obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cross-sectional SEM analysis, which showed visible difference in pellet surface before and after multi-layered coating. The micro-CT results confirmed the visible demarcation of layers (drug and polymer, i.e., hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and eudragit (EPO)) along with uniform thickness of various layering. The dissolution study of developed pellets suggested the role of layering EPO on drug release from pellets. The e-tongue analysis proved to be an excellent tool for early prediction of taste masking of drug via multi-layered pellets and can serve as potential platform for taste masking with high specificity. The overall results suggest the suitability of developed multi-layered platform as efficient dosage form (sprinkle) in pediatric/geriatric product development.

Biotechnological insights into extracellular enzyme production by thermotolerant fungi from hot springs and caves: Morphology, pellets formation, and protease production.

This study investigates the thermotolerant fungal biodiversity in caves and hot springs, focusing on their potential for extracellular enzyme production, specifically proteases. Samples were collected from the Cardonal region in Hidalgo, Mexico, using three different isolation methods. The study characterizes the morphological diversity of the isolated fungi and identifies various genera, including Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma, Cladosporium, and Fusarium, based on morphology. The isolated fungi were screened for their ability to produce extracellular enzymes on solid media, with a particular emphasis on proteases due to their industrial significance. Among the 35 isolated fungi, 20 exhibited proteolytic activity, and 12 strains were identified as good protease producers based on enzymatic index values. The study also evaluated the formation of fungal pellets by proteolytic fungi and found certain strains to display significant pellet formation. Additionally, protease production was examined by fungal pellets in submerged cultures, with isolate 6 demonstrating the highest protease activity. The findings highlight the diverse thermotolerant fungal biodiversity in extreme environments, and emphasize their potential for enzymatic production. This research contributes to our understanding of fungal ecology and provides insights into the biotechnological applications of these enzymes. The study recommends further molecular investigations to enhance biodiversity studies in such extreme environments.

Fungal pellets of Pleurotus ostreatus and Rhizopus stolonifer for biotechnological applications: Characterization and production optimization using Taguchi methodology

Filamentous fungi are known for their significant potential in biotechnology, thanks to their versatile enzyme systems with various applications. However, dealing with their growth patterns and structural configurations presents significant challenges. To tackle these issues, fungal pellets are emerging as potential solutions, providing compact biomass aggregates that offer distinct advantages for bioprocesses. This study delves into characterization and optimizing pellet formation for Pleurotus ostreatus and Rhizopus stolonifer using the Taguchi methodology, aiming to enhance their biotechnological applications. By systematically varying parameters such as agitation level (AL), glucose concentration (GC), and inoculum size (IS), we identified key factors influencing pellet formation. Results indicate that P. ostreatus forms pellets in rich media from mycelium, while R. stolonifer requires a minimal medium with pH modifications for pelletization via a coagulative mechanism. The optimization process reveals that agitation level is a crucial factor for maximizing pellet production in both models, while the other factors do not seem to influence the process significantly but impact the morphology and quantity of pellets. The results suggest that by optimizing parameters using the Taguchi method, it is possible to achieve acceptable pellet formation performance in both fungi. Understanding these factors is essential for improving the efficiency of biotechnological processes involving fungal biomass, providing valuable insights into enhancing fungal pellet production for various applications.

Inducing Fungal Pelletization Using Affordable Microparticle

Filamentous fungi have been known as one of the potential microorganisms in various industries. One of the isolates with great potential is Mucor irregularis that offer substantial potential to their growth characteristics. In submerged cultures, these microorganisms often aggregate into mycelia, enabling high-density cultivation and enhanced productivity. M irregularis have a high lipid content of 43.46% and a yield of 3.28 g/L. To further lipid-rich biomass production, pelletization is explored to involve the addition of microparticles like magnesium silicate and calcium carbonate. Microparticles have demonstrated the ability to control growth and enhance biomass in various strains. This study investigates the impact of microparticle addition on M. irregularis biomass production and pellet formation. Preliminary tests reveal that the addition of magnesium silicate microparticles (0, 1, 2, and 3 g/L) induces pellet formation, with the 2 g/L treatment yielding optimal results. Microscopic observations confirm that higher magnesium silicate concentrations result in more compact pellets. Biomass production peaks at 72 hours of incubation, reaching 3.09 ± 0.43 g/L, while the largest pellet diameter of 1.27 mm occurs at 48 hours of incubation. This research offers insights into enhancing biomass production and pellet formation in M. irregularis, holding promise for diverse applications.

Исследование процесса гранулирования корма для рыб корзинном грануляторе

The production of pelleted aquaculture feeds from wet raw materials should reasonably be carried out in a basket granulator. The operation process of the basket granulator is not well studied. Rational parameters of its operation have no scientific grounds. A basket granulator is designed for pelleting of wet raw materials and producing feed for fish and their fry in the form of pellets with a diameter of 0.5 of 2 mm and a moisture content of 25 to 40%. Experimental studies were carried out to determine rational parameters of pelleting that provide high productivity. The pelleting process of wet raw material was studied at the rotation frequency of three extrusion blades of the granulator 37.8, 45.8, and 50.3 rpm and efficiency, respectively, 231, 274, and 291 kg∙h-1 . It has been established that the process of pellet formation in the basket granulator is cyclic and consists of pellet formation, reverse movement of material, and relaxation. Increasing the speed of the granulator’s working parts will lead to a decrease in the cycle duration of the impact of the parts on the material due to a decrease in the relaxation period, while the duration of the periods of pellet formation and reverse movement of the material remain constant. The duration of the relaxation period and the whole cycle of impact of the parts decrease almost linearly when increasing the rotational speed, but their duration decreases insignificantly when the frequency exceeds 47 rpm. The efficiency of the basket granulator can be increased both by increasing the number of working parts and increasing their rotary speed, but these methods have limitations associated with increasing the energy intensity of the process and the granulator design. The influence of rheological properties of raw materials and their moisture content on the pelleting process should be studied in the course of further research to justify the rational duration of periods in the working cycle of the basket granulator

E3 ubiquitin-ligase RNF138 may regulate p53 protein expression to regulate the self-renewal and tumorigenicity of glioma stem cells.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most malignant tumor of the central nervous system, is characterized by poor survival and high recurrence. Glioma stem cells (GSCs) are key to treating GBM and are regulated by various signaling pathways. Ubiquitination, a post-translational modification, plays an important regulatory role in many biological processes. Ring finger protein 138 (RNF138) is an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase that is highly expressed in several tumors; however, its role in GBM is unclear. This study investigated whether RNF138 regulates the self-renewal ability of glioma stem GSCs to treat GBM. The expression of RNF138 in glioma tissues and its correlation with GSCs were analyzed using bioinformatics. Short hairpin ribonucleic acid (RNA) was designed to downregulate the expression of RNF138 in GSCs, and immunofluorescence, secondary pellet formation, and western blotting were used to detect changes in GSC markers and self-renewal ability. The effects of RNF138 on p53 protein expression were determined by immunofluorescence and western blotting. The effects of RNF138 on the self-renewal and tumorigenic abilities of GSCs were evaluated in vivo. RNF138 expression was higher in glioma tissues than in normal brain tissues, and was highly expressed in GSCs. RNF138 downregulation significantly decreased the expression of the GSC markers cluster of differentiation 133 (CD133) and nestin. Mechanistically, RNF138 may interfere with the self-renewal ability of GSCs by regulating the expression of p53. RNF138 downregulation in vivo prolonged survival time and regulated the expression of p53 protein in tumor-bearing mice. RNF138 may regulate the expression of p53 protein through ubiquitination, thereby affecting the self-renewal and tumorigenic ability of GSCs. This study provides a scientific basis for the treatment of glioblastoma by targeting RNF138 to inhibit GSCs.

Enhancing Monascus Pellet Formation for Improved Secondary Metabolite Production.

Filamentous fungi are well-known for their ability to form mycelial pellets during submerged cultures, a characteristic that has been extensively studied and applied. However, Monascus, a filamentous saprophytic fungus with a rich history of medicinal and culinary applications, has not been widely documented for pellet formation. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing pellet formation in Monascus and their impact on citrinin production, a key secondary metabolite. Through systematic exploration, we identified pH and inoculum size as critical factors governing pellet formation. Monascus exhibited optimal pellet growth within the acidic pH range from 5 to 6, resulting in smaller, more homogeneous pellets with lower citrinin content. Additionally, we found that inoculum size played a vital role, with lower spore concentrations favoring the formation of small, uniformly distributed pellets. The choice of carbon and nitrogen sources also influenced pellet stability, with glucose, peptone, and fishmeal supporting stable pellet formation. Notably, citrinin content was closely linked to pellet diameter, with larger pellets exhibiting higher citrinin levels. Our findings shed light on optimizing Monascus pellet formation for enhanced citrinin production and provide valuable insights into the cultivation of this fungus for various industrial applications. Further research is warranted to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying these observations.

Growth of fungi and yeasts in food production waste streams: a feasibility study

Food production produces nutrient-rich waste streams which, depending on local legislation, are either sent to wastewater treatment plants or discharged into the environment. In addition to causing environmental harm in the second instance, valuable nutrients are lost. A more circular approach would be to reuse these waste streams. Fungi and yeasts are ideal candidates as they require lots of organic carbon (which is especially high in food production waste streams) for growth, with the potential for producing value-added biomass. Here, we tested the metabolic activity and possible growth of seven fungi and three yeasts in five different food production waste streams. Initial tests were done to find the most promising waste streams for growth and these were chosen for further study. All species were then cultured in these waste streams and oxygen uptake was measured to gauge metabolic activity which we used as a proxy for growth rate. Pelletization’s effect on metabolic rates was tested on the most pellet-forming species, by adding agar to inhibit pellet formation. The most promising waste stream for yeast/fungal growth was cheese whey (Whey). Pellet inhibition (i.e., filamentous growth) resulted in increased metabolic activity of cells in the confectionary bakery waste stream with agar but decreased metabolic activity in Whey with agar. The best-growing species, Geotrichum candidum, has potential commercial value as a producer of enzymes, biochemicals and lipids and could provide added value while improving the circularity of water and nutrients in food production.

Admixed pellets for fast and efficient delivery of plasma enhancement gases: Investigations at AUG exploring the option for EU-DEMO

Gas and pellet injection are envisaged for particle fuelling in EU-DEMO. The gas system will provide edge and divertor fuelling and any further gas species required for operation. Pellets, mm-sized bodies formed from solid hydrogen fuel, are designed for efficient and fast core fuelling. However, they can also be employed for a more efficient delivery of plasma enhancement gases, by admixing them with the fuelling pellets. To check this option for EU-DEMO, explorative investigations have been performed at ASDEX Upgrade (AUG).The AUG system produces ice in a batch process sufficient for about 100 pellets, initially designed for operation with pure H2 or D2. On a trial basis, pellet formation was tested using an H2/D2 mixture and admixtures containing small amounts (up to 2 mol%) of N2, Ar, Kr or Xe in the D2 host. A homogeneous and reproducible ice composition was found for the H2/D2 = 1:1 case. For all the admixed gases, a depletion of the admixture in the ice with increasing atomic number is observed. Nevertheless, the fast and efficient delivery of admixed pellets was clearly demonstrated in dedicated plasma experiments at AUG. Detailed investigations showed that the Ar supplied via admixed pellets has a higher radiation efficiency and a faster radiation rise than an Ar/D2 gas puff. Furthermore, Ar density measurements in a discharge with admixed pellet injection show reasonable agreement with findings of a fading admixed species’ concentration along the ice rod and assumptions on the pellet ablation location in the plasma. Investigations performed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory with a large batch extruder using up to 2 mol% Ne in D2 confirmed that production of much larger ice quantities can be achieved.These initial explorative investigations clearly reveal the great potential of admixed pellets, although they also demonstrate that further technology efforts are required before their benefits can be utilized.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) transport as solid natural gas (SNG) hydrate Pellets: Assessment of Self-Preservation & dissociation controls

Safe greenhouse gas (GHG) transport is an integral part of any carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) operations. This manuscript discusses the assessment of solid natural gas (SNG) hydrate technology to safely transport GHG utilizing the self-preservation capability of hydrates around 248 K. Ice shielding around hydrate grains has been previously implicated as a key mechanism for self-preservation of hydrates. However, there is a lack of thorough understanding of the hydrate grains sintering and compaction effects on self-preservation prior to the ice crust formation around the grains. In a first of its kind study, the promotional effects of hydrate grains compaction and sintering via pellet porosities, aging times, and formation times on self-preservation are presented. Furthermore, real time operational variables such as depressurization rates and system pressure build-up are studied. A unique integrated apparatus was designed to assess in-situ hydrate pellets formation, compaction, and dissociation. This method eliminated the uncertainties of possible hydrate dissociation during material transfer between the operational stages. Around 248 K, hydrate pellet stability occurs in two states: pre-self-preservation (initial fast hydrate dissociation) and extended self-preservation (slow hydrate dissociation over 200 + hours). Decreasing porosity via compaction and increasing formation and pellet-aging times via prolonged sintering increases hydrate pellet stability. The pellet stability can be further promoted by slowly depressurizing the pellet to ambient pressure and allowing pressure build-up from the dissociating hydrates. Additional transport risks are assessed through a sudden loss of temperature from 248 K, which are missing in the literature. Refrigeration failure of the pellet progresses in two stages: (1) a safe insulation stage characterized by slow dissociation and minimal gas evolution, followed by (2) a rapid dissociation stage during which complete dissociation of the pellet took place. Overall, this work elucidates the transportation factors governing self-preservation and dissociation, thus indicating the feasibility for safe GHG transport via SNG technology.