Advances in solidified methane and carbon dioxide storage: The potential of amino acids, biosurfactants, and nanoparticles as foam-free gas hydrate promoters.

The rising global need for natural gas and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions highlight the significance of innovative storage solutions like hydrate-based solidified gas technology. Gas hydrates offer great potential as an efficient and safe method for storing methane and carbon dioxide. However, it faces operational challenges, primarily due to foam formation during gas recovery, which adversely affects efficiency and increases operational costs. As the gas hydrates dissociate, they release significant volumes of gas into the surrounding water. Surfactants reduce the surface tension of this water, enabling the released gas to form stable bubbles encased in thin liquid films. This review highlights innovative approaches to developing foam-free promoters, specifically focusing on amino acids, biosurfactants, and nanoparticles that enhance hydrate formation while mitigating foaming issues. This review evaluates the mechanisms underlying these promoters' effectiveness, emphasizing their promotion power and foaming ability. Comparative analyses reveal that amino acids and biosurfactants enable rapid hydrate formation and effective gas storage under varied conditions, while nanoparticle systems provide structural stability and efficiency in complex environments. The performance of foam-free promoters is assessed under various conditions, including temperature, pressure, and salinity, revealing the importance of molecular mechanisms in promoting hydrate stability and efficiency. The potential of environmentally friendly materials, such as amino acids and biosurfactants, is emphasized, showcasing their effectiveness in reducing foam formation without compromising hydrate formation rates. Furthermore, their compatibility with renewable energy strategies aligns with global sustainability goals, making them pivotal for the commercial use of gas storage based on hydrates. The integration of advanced computational tools and systematic experimentation is advocated for optimizing promoter formulations, ultimately paving the way for the commercial viability of hydrate technologies. This synthesis of findings provides a comprehensive framework for future research and applications in the field of gas storage and recovery, underscoring the transformative potential of foam-free hydrate promoters in sustainable energy systems.