Effects of two surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monopalmitate (Tween(R)40) on ethane hydrate formation kinetics: Experimental and modeling studies

In this communication, the experimental and modeling investigation were performed on ethane hydrate formation process in the presence of pure water and two surfactants. First, the effects of stirring rate (450, 600 and 800 rpm) and initial pressure (1.56-2.46 MPa) on the rate of ethane hydrate formation in the presence of pure water were studied. Then, effect of two surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monopalmitate (Tween(R)40)) on ethane hydrate formation rate were experimentally investigated at three different temperatures (275.2, 277.2 and 279.2 K) and concentrations (300, 500 and 1000 surfactant ppm). A model based on mass transfer was used to model these experimental data. The results of this study show that both SDS and Tween(R)40 increased ethane hydrate formation rate, but Tween(R)40 could not increase ethane hydrate formation rate as effective as SDS.