Effect of type-III Anti-Freeze Proteins (AFPs) on CO2 hydrate formation rate

The concentration of the AFPs investigated in this research is 10 ppm. Experimental results show that the supercooling degree of the solution is only slightly affected by the addition of AFPs. Results also show that the addition of AFPs slows down the dissolution rate of CO2 gas into the aqueous solution which is the first step of gas hydrate formation. A hydrate growth equation has been used, from which the experimental mass transfer coefficient of CO2 through the solution has been derived. Results show that the decrease of hydrate growth rate with the addition of AFPs can be related to a decrease of the CO2 mass transfer coefficient which gives a lower mass transport rate from bulk liquid phase to the crystal interface.