Method of preparing a chemical compound

• US 5,044,164 A
• Filed: 04/10/1989
• Issued: 09/03/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Van Den Bergh Foods Company Division of Conopco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Van Den Bergh Foods Company Division of Conopco Incorporated
• Inventors: Bee, Rodney D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Capossela, Ronald C.
• Application Number:
  US07/335,618
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 62/46.1, 62/54.1, 62/69, 62/70
• US Class Current: 62/46.1
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 32/50 Carbon dioxide

Abstract

A method of preparing a clathrate of a gas-hydrate-forming material and water by preparing a dispersion of liquid water in a continuous fluid phase comprising the gas-hydrate-forming material and controlling the temperature and the pressure such that a clathrate is formed.

Claims

1. Method of preparing a clathrate of a gas-hydrate-forming material and water, the method comprising:

(i) preparing an emulsion of liquid water in a continuous fluid phase including the gas-hydrate-forming material while using a water-in-oil emulsifier; and

(ii) controlling the temperature and pressure of the emulsion such that the gas-hydrate-forming material is dissolved into liquid water and the clathrate is formed.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the continuous phase at least predominantly comprise liquid gas-hydrate-forming material.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the continuous phase has a lower solidification point than the clathrate-forming temperature under the same conditions, and wherein the method further comprises controlling the temperature such that the continuous phase does not solidify and thereafter separating the clathrate particles from the continuous phase.

4. Method according to claim 2 wherein the method further comprises lowering the temperature after the clathrate formation to freeze at least some of the continuous phase containing the clathrate particles.

5. Method according to claim 2, wherein the gas-hydrate forming material is CO₂.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the continuous phase is liquid and is selected such that the gas-hydrate-forming material is more soluble in the continuous liquid phase than in the water phase.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the continuous phase has a lower solidification point than the clathrate-forming temperature under the same conditions, and wherein the method further comprises controlling the temperature such that the continuous phase does not solidify and thereafter separating the clathrate particles from the continuous phase.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein the continuous phase has a lower solidification point than the clathrate-forming temperature under the same conditions, and wherein the method further comprises controlling the temperature such that the continuous phase does not solidify and thereafter separating the clathrate particles from the continuous phase.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises lowering the temperature after the clathrate formation to freeze at least some of the continuous phase containing the clathrate particles.

10. Method according to claim 1, wherein the gas-hydrate-forming material is carbon dioxide and the continuous phase comprises an oil.

11. Method according to claim 1, wherein the gas-hydrate-forming material is CO₂.

12. Method according to claim 1 wherein the water includes small amounts of other compatible compounds.