Thermodynamics and kinetics of methane hydrate formation in seawater from the South China Sea: Potential application of hydrate-based desalination

Yue Zhang, Jing-chun Feng, Yuhang Zhang, Bin Wang, Liangyun Qin, Yi Wang and Si Zhang

Applied Energy, 2025, vol. 388, issue C, No S030626192500426X

Abstract: Due to increasing global water scarcity, hydrate-based desalination (HBD) has received widespread attention as an emerging desalination technology. Methane (CH4) seepage, commonly referred to cold seeps, is widely observed in various geological settings along both active and passive continental margins. The presence of methane dissolved in seawater, chemicals produced by biological reactions, and subsequent changes in ionic composition and concentration may influence the formation of methane hydrates, making seawater from cold seep areas a potential candidate for HBD applications. In this study, we investigated the thermodynamic and kinetic behaviors of CH4 hydrate formation in seawater samples obtained from four sites in the South China Sea. Experimental results showed that CH4 hydrates formed in seawater from the site Haima (HM) exhibited good thermodynamic stability. In contrast, seawater from Site F significantly inhibited the formation of CH4 hydrates, making it less favorable for hydrate formation compared to the other sites. Morphologically, CH4 hydrates in seawater from the site HM were observed to be denser and more compact. Overall. seawater from the site HM appears to be advantageous for the HBD applications. In addition, a simulated hydrate-based desalination system was designed using LNG cold energy, and factors affecting energy consumption were analyzed. These findings can provide some valuable insights and new perspectives for the study and practical application of HBD in cold seep seawater.

Keywords: Gas hydrate formation; Phase equilibrium; Kinetics; Desalination; Cold seep (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125696

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