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CRYOGENIC-SEM INVESTIGATION OF CO2 HYDRATE MORPHOLOGIESCamps, A.P, Milodowski, A.E., Rochelle, C.A., Lovell, M.A., Williams, J.F., Jackson, P.D. 07 1900 (has links)
Gas hydrates occur naturally around the world in the shallow-marine geosphere, and have
received diverse attention, crossing many disciplines, ranging from interest as a drilling hazard in
the petroleum industry through to their role in the carbon cycle, and their possible contribution in
past and present climate change. Carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrates also occur naturally on Earth in
the Okinawa Trough, offshore Japan, and they could exist elsewhere in the solar system.
Additionally, CO2 hydrates are being investigated for their potential to store large volumes of
CO2 to reduce atmospheric emissions of greenhouse gases as a climate change mitigation
strategy. Although research into hydrates has rapidly gained pace in more recent years their
mineralogy and formation processes are still relatively poorly understood. Various imaging
techniques have been used to study gas hydrates, such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; Magnetic
Resonance Imaging; X-ray Computed Tomography and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).
We have investigated CO2 hydrates formed within the BGS laboratories, using a cryogenic-SEM.
This investigation has produced various different hydrate morphologies resulting from different
formation conditions. Morphologies range from well-defined euhedral crystals to acicular
needles, and more complex, intricate forms. Cryogenic-SEM of these hydrates has yielded a
wealth of information, and with further investigation of hydrate formed within different
formation conditions we may begin to comprehend the complex growth mechanisms involved.
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