Recovery of methane from gas hydrates intercalated within natural sediments using CO(2) and a CO(2)/N(2) gas mixture.
The direct recovery of methane from massive methane hydrates (MHs), artificial MH-bearing clays, and natural MH-bearing sediments is demonstrated, using either CO(2) or a CO(2)/N(2) gas mixture (20 mol % of CO(2) and 80 mol % of N(2), reproducing flue gas from a power plant) for methane replacement in complex marine systems. Natural gas hydrates (NGHs) can be converted into CO(2) hydrate by a swapping mechanism. The overall process serves a dual purpose: it is a means of sustainable energy-source exploitation and greenhouse-gas sequestration. In particular, scant attention has been paid to the natural sediment clay portion in deep-sea gas hydrates, which is capable of storing a tremendous amount of NGH. The clay interlayer provides a unique chemical-physical environment for gas hydrates. Herein, for the first time, we pull out methane from intercalated methane hydrates in a clay interlayer using CO(2) and a CO(2)/N(2) gas mixture. The results of this study are expected to provide an essential physicochemical background required for large-scale NGH production under the seabed.
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and the Graduate School of EEWS (WCU), KAIST 373-1 Guseong-dong, Daejeon, 305-701, Korea.
Dong-Yeun
DY
Koh
Hyery
H
Kang
Dae-Ok
DO
Kim
Juwoon
J
Park
Minjun
M
Cha
Huen
H
Lee
D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000737:chemistry; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D000077215:Clay; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D008697:Methane / Q000737:chemistry*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D014867:Water; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009584:Nitrogen; D008697:Methane; D000077215:Clay