Advances in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques for the investigation of clathrate hydrates

Over the years, clathrate hydrates have been investigated for its potential as an energy resource and other industrial applications. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are two powerful NMR technologies for both molecular level and microscopic measurement, which have been applied in gas hydrate research to provide fundamental and useful information. 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy are the most commonly applied method to study cage occupancies of guest species and crystal structures. MRI technique, on the other hand, provides microscopic insights towards the gas hydrate formation and dissociation in porous media and the study of CH4/CO2 hydrate replacement. We also reviewed the state of the art application of NMR based technology in research on the gas-liquid multiphase flow and temperature mapping within porous media. Potential improvements in NMR technology to improve the fundamental understanding towards gas hydrates is also discussed in this review article.