Time-resolved in-situ experiments on the crystallization of natural gas hydrates

Time-resolved X-ray synchrotron techniques have been used, for the first time, to capture the crystalline structural dynamics of common hydrate structures during formation. Measurements were performed on carbon dioxide and propane hydrates at 273.8 K and 3.29-0.42 MPa. Our results indicate that the in-situ crystal lattice structure is in agreement with previous low-temperature single-crystal data, although the in-situ unit cell parameter is lower than those based on low-temperature, single-crystal measurements. We show the effects of two kinetic inhibitors, polyvinylpyrrolidone and tyrosine, on the energy dispersive spectra obtained for the inhibited crystal hydrate.