Surfactant effects on SF6 hydrate formation

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2009 Mar 1;331(1):55-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2008.11.031. Epub 2008 Nov 20.

Abstract

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF(6)) has been widely used in a variety of industrial processes, but it is one of the most potent greenhouse gases. For this reason, it is necessary to separate or collect it from waste gas streams. One separation method is through hydrate crystal formation. In this study, SF(6) hydrate was formed in aqueous surfactant solutions of 0.00, 0.01, 0.05, 0.15 and 0.20 wt% to investigate the effects of surfactants on the hydrate formation rates. Three surfactants, Tween 20 (Tween), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and linear alkyl benzene sulfonate (LABS), were tested in a semi-batch stirred vessel at the constant temperature and pressures of 276.2 K and 0.78 MPa, respectively. All surfactants showed kinetic promoter behavior for SF(6) hydrate formation. It was also found that SF(6) hydrate formation proceeded in two stages with the second stage being the most rapid. In situ Raman spectroscopy analysis revealed that the increased gas consumption rate with the addition of surfactant was possibly due to the increased gas filling rate in the hydrate cavity.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollutants / chemistry
  • Air Pollutants / isolation & purification*
  • Benzenesulfonates
  • Crystallization
  • Greenhouse Effect
  • Kinetics
  • Polysorbates
  • Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate
  • Sulfur Hexafluoride / chemistry
  • Sulfur Hexafluoride / isolation & purification*
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry*

Substances

  • Air Pollutants
  • Benzenesulfonates
  • Polysorbates
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate
  • benzenesulfonic acid
  • Sulfur Hexafluoride