Hydrophobic Particle Effects on Hydrate Crystal Growth at the Water-Oil Interface

• Published in: Chemistry - An Asian Journal
• Main Authors: Cha, M Cha, Minjun, Baek, S Baek, Seungjun, Morris, J Morris, Jeffrey, Lee, JW Lee, Jae Woo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH 2014
• Subjects: CARBON-DIOXIDE; METHANE HYDRATE; CYCLOPENTANE; SURFACTANTS; Methane hydrate
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10203/187100; https://doi.org/10.1002/asia.201300905

This study introduced hydrophobic silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) into an interface of aqueous and hydrate-forming oil phases and analyzed the inhibition of hydrate crystal growth after seeding the hydrate slurry. The hydrate inhibition performance was quantitatively identified by micro-differential scanning calorimetry (micro-DSC) experiments. Through the addition of 1.0 wt % of SiNPs into the water-oil interface, the hydrate crystal growth only occurred around the seeding position of cyclopentane (CP) hydrate slurry, and the growth of hydrate crystals was retarded. Upon a further increase in the SiNP concentration up to 2.0 wt %, the SiNP-laden interface completely prevented hydrate growth. We observed a hollow conical shape of hydrate crystals with 0.0 and 1.0 wt % of SiNPs, respectively, but the size and shape of the conical crystals was shrunken at 1.0 wt % of silica nanoparticles. However, the conical shape did not appear with an increased nanoparticle concentration of 2 wt %. These findings can provide insight into hydrate inhibition in oil and gas delivery lines, possibly with nanoparticles.