How to Improve the Efficiency of Kinetic Hydrate Inhibitors Based on Nanofibrillar Cellulose?

Abstract

This research discovered that carboxylated cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) with cations of various structures can significantly reduce the number of nucleation sites for methane hydrate formation when compared to distilled water. The electrokinetic potential of CNF in water slightly affects the concentration of hydrate crystallization centers, but it does alter the work of their formation. The energy barrier increases as the absolute value of the electrokinetic potential of nanoparticles decreases. The study of the effect of various CNF salts on the kinetics of methane hydrate formation expands our understanding of the inhibition mechanism of hydrate formation. It’s assumed that a significant negative charge prevents the adsorption of like-charged hydrate nucleation centers on CNF. A decrease in the absolute value of zeta potential of CNF due to a change in cation facilitates this process. As a result, nuclei sorbed on colloidal CNF particles are stabilized on the surface, complicating their coalescence and crystal growth. The design of cellulose-based nanoparticles with varying zeta potential will allow the development of a colloid theory for controlling the formation of gas hydrates.