Hydrophobized particles can accelerate nucleation of clathrate hydrates. (15th January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Huijuan; Wang, Liguang
• Is Part Of: Fuel. Volume 140(2015)
• Page Start: 440
• Page End: 445
• Publication Date: 2015-01-15
• Subjects: Hydrophobicity -- Surfactant coating -- Induction time -- Probability distribution -- Nucleation rate; Fuel -- Periodicals; Coal -- Periodicals; Coal; Fuel; Periodicals; 662.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2014.10.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-2361

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Particles were treated by different surfactant-coating methods. OTS-coated particles had the strongest nucleation-accelerating effect. Particle intrusion into the guest/water interface was critical for some systems. Abstract: This paper reports the effects of glass particles coated by N, N -dimethyl- N -octadecyl-3-aminopropyl trimethoxysilyl chloride (DMOAP) and octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) on the nucleation of tetrahydrofuran (THF), cyclopentane (CP), tetra- n -butyl ammonium bromide (TBAB) and methane (CH4 ) hydrates under static conditions with no agitation. Induction-time data were collected and statistically processed in the form of probability ( P ) distribution of samples undergoing no formation of clathrate hydrates as a function of time. Nucleation rate was calculated by fitting the P values to an equation based on the classical nucleation theory. It was found that within 12 h, the nucleation rates of all four hydrates were significantly increased by introducing OTS-coated (hydrophobic) surfaces. In contrast, DMOAP-coated (partly hydrophobic) glass surfaces and clean (hydrophilic) glass surfaces had no effect on the formation of CP and CH4 hydrates but showed relatively weak promotion effect on the formation of THF and TBAB hydrates. It was also found that the position where OTS-coated particles were loaded was of paramount importance for the nucleation of the hydrates with water-immiscible CP and CH4, and the appropriate loading position was at the guest/water interface. These results suggest that foreign particles when properly hydrophobized and loaded can accelerate clathrate hydrate nucleation.