Chemical Thermodynamics for Industry
Written by leading experts in the field, this book presents the latest developments in applied thermodynamics and highlights the role of thermodynamics in the chemical industry.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Chemical Thermodynamics for Industry
3: Development of Hydrate Thermodynamics
3 Development of Hydrate Thermodynamics
After their discovery and attendant interest, hydrate thermodynamic advances have been driven by practical concerns. In this section, motivating factors are shown with historical advances in three periods: (1) initial discovery and academic interest, (2) discovery of hydrates in pipelines, and (3) discovery of hydrates in nature. The applications of each of the three periods still exist as foundations for hydrate thermodynamic advances.
3.1 Discovery and Academic Interest
While the clathrate hydrate discovery was announced in Davy's Bakerian Lecture, [1] Priestley [2] apparently discovered SO 2 hydrates some years before, but failed to repeat, or pursue the original experiment. Davy's hydrates of oxymuriatic acid (now known as chlorine) were succeeded by hydrate discoveries of methane, ethane, and propane through 40 years of efforts by Villard and deForcrand. [3] These early researchers were intrigued by two aspects of these unusual hydrates: (a) the ratio of guest-to-water molecules (as high as 15:85) was very high relative to most other combinations of hydrocarbons and water, and (b) the fact that the ratio varied with each experiment - the hydration number changed from fractional values between 6 and 8, or higher for larger molecules such as propane. In addition, this era concentrated on finding a comprehensive list of chemicals that formed these unusual non-stoichiometric hydrates.
More recently, academic hydrate research has moved from gentlemanly pursuits of science to being pragmatically driven. The rare research work stresses hydrate interest due to insights into water potentials. [4]
Copyright The Royal Society of Chemistry 2004 under license agreement with Books24x7
