UC Irvine

Methane hydrate growth was investigated in solutions of between 0 and 10 wt\% NaCl in the presence of the surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate, potassium dodecyl sulfate, and sodium laurate. Total amount of water converted to hydrate and total rate of hydrate formation were both found to greatly decrease with increased NaCl concentration in the presence of all surfactants tested. Different salinity-depenent patterns of growth were observed. Latent heat of hydrate formation was directly measured with deionized water containing sodium dodecyl sulfate. These results could provide a template for a hydrate-based desalination system.