Organic salts as kinetic and thermodynamic inhibitors for CO 2 hydrate precipitation

• Published in: Journal of natural gas science and engineering Vol. 82; p. 1
• Main Authors: Ramos, Alessandro da Silva, Pires, Jessica Pereira, Ketzer, João Marcelo, Lourega, Rogerio Vescia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Hydrates; Inhibitors; Natural Science; Naturvetenskap; Organic salt
• ISSN: 1875-5100; 2212-3865
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jngse.2020.103508

In this work, we opted for the use of CO 2 gas for the respective experiments, due to its greater solubility in water when compared to hydrocarbons, as well as possible applications in pre-salt oil fields (such as the Libra field), where the amount of CO 2 varies between 40 and 80%, obstructing the pipelines in the CO 2 capture stage. In this context, the objective of this work is to obtain organic salts of different amino acids and alcohols (biodegradable and environmentally friendly compounds) and to test them in a pilot gas hydrate synthesis plant, with the goal of evaluate the inhibition potential of these compounds for CO 2 hydrates. The organic compounds were synthesized with good yields and were characterized by NMR (C-13 and H-1) and elementary analysis. The compounds with greater hydrophilic character showed thermodynamic inhibition effects for the tested condition, while the hydrophobic compounds showed kinetic inhibition effects. The fundamental knowledge and the mechanism on the kinetic and/or thermodynamic inhibition of CO 2 hydrates from organic salts obtained in this study are beneficial and extremely important, given the good results presented and the unprecedented application of the tested compounds.