Scientists at the Institute of Geology and Oil and Gas Technologies of Kazan Federal University were able to synthesize a substance to convert natural gas into hydrate - a crystalline compound of methane and water. The resulting reagent is safe and environmentally friendly because it was made on the basis of plant components.
RT writes that the compound is superior to modern analogs in several respects.
Experts say that thanks to this development it will be possible to store and transport natural gas even to the most remote corners of the country.
Gas hydrates are compounds that form under certain conditions of low temperatures and high pressure. Hydrates have small cavities in their crystalline framework that contain gas molecules. Experts were able to create a new compound - a hydrate based on sulfated castor oil. Such oil is obtained by pressing castor oil seeds.
Matvey Semyonov, a senior researcher of the Research Institute of Oil Recovery Enhancement Methods of NCMU, said that the emphasis was placed on the study of toxicity and biodegradation.
Mikhail Varfolomeyev, Head of the Department of Development and Exploitation of Hard-to-recover Hydrocarbon Fields of IG&NGT and Head of Oil Recovery Enhancement Methods at NCMU, emphasized that the proposed reagent does not have technical disadvantages that many anionic surfactants have. He stated that thanks to this discovery it will be possible to expand the possibilities of gasification of remote settlements.
Earlier it was reported that Californian scientists found brain cells responsible for overeating, and also experts found out that the volume of the brain increases with phyzactivity.