Clathrate hydrate-based technologies have been considered as promising alternatives for the mitigation of the climate change caused by emissions of carbon dioxide produced by combustion of fossil fuels by industrial facilities, and other human activities. Clathrate hydrates (also called gas hydrates) are nonstoichiometric crystalline ice-like substances, consisting of a hydrogenbonded lattice formed by water molecules (host) and entrapped gas molecules (guest), which are not bonded with the lattice. These ice-like inclusion compounds are formed under particular conditions of temperature and pressure. Their main merit is the drastic reduction of volume of the enclathrated gas compared to that in the gas phase. The environmentally friendly profile of the clathrate hydrate-based processes, their low energy costs and simplicity, constitute some of their evident benefits, comparing to conventional methods for capturing CO2. The large uptake of CO2 in clathrate hydrates renders them a promising option for carbon capture and storage, flow assurance and safe CO2 pipeline transportations, and CO2 disposing and sequestration.
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