Hydrophobic amino acids as a new class of kinetic inhibitors for gas hydrate formation

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 3; no. 1; p. 2428
• Main Authors: Sa, Jeong-Hoon, Kwak, Gye-Hoon, Lee, Bo Ram, Park, Da-Hye, Han, Kunwoo, Lee, Kun-Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 13.08.2013; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/166/898; 639/638/440; 639/638/541; 704/172; Amino acids; Amino Acids - chemistry; Biodegradability; Biodegradation; Gases - chemical synthesis; Humanities and Social Sciences; Hydrates; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Hydrophobicity; Kinetics; Materials Testing; multidisciplinary; Natural gas; Nucleation; Pipelines; Science; Water - chemistry
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/srep02428

As the foundation of energy industry moves towards gas, flow assurance technology preventing pipelines from hydrate blockages becomes increasingly significant. However, the principle of hydrate inhibition is still poorly understood. Here, we examined natural hydrophobic amino acids as novel kinetic hydrate inhibitors (KHIs) and investigated hydrate inhibition phenomena by using them as a model system. Amino acids with lower hydrophobicity were found to be better KHIs to delay nucleation and retard growth, working by disrupting the water hydrogen bond network, while those with higher hydrophobicity strengthened the local water structure. It was found that perturbation of the water structure around KHIs plays a critical role in hydrate inhibition. This suggestion of a new class of KHIs will aid development of KHIs with enhanced biodegradability and the present findings will accelerate the improved control of hydrate formation for natural gas exploitation and the utilization of hydrates as next-generation gas capture media.