A Study on the Effects of Salt on Hydrate Growth and Contact Angles

PROJECT NUMBER: 15

AUTHOR: Chaffin Ross, Chemical and Biological Engineering | MENTOR: Carolyn Koh, Chemical and Biological Engineering

ABSTRACT

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This research investigates the effects of salt on the growth, and contact angle measurement of cyclopentane hydrates. Experiments were conducted to quantify the contact angle measurement of a water droplet with 0 wt%, 0.1 wt%, 0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, and 3.5 wt% NaCl on the surface of a cyclopentane hydrate. These experiments were conducted using a low pressure, interfacial microscopy apparatus with integrated cooling chambers, that was designed and constructed in this project. Upon completion of the contact angle measurement, the measurement was then analyzed using ImageJ software. The results of these experiments show that NaCl does have an effect on the contact angle. These experiments also showed that hydrate surface roughness increases with increasing salt content which could also play a role in the contact angle changes. This is continuing to be investigated.

VISUAL PRESENTATION

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AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

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Chaffin Ross is currently a senior undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering as well as a minor in Economics. For the past two years Chaffin has been a member of the Center for Hydrate Research under the direction of Dr. Carolyn Koh. Chaffin’s present project has examined the effects of salt on the nucleation and growth of clathrate hydrates. He hopes to continue this research in the future and examine the potential of clathrate hydrates as a method of desalination.

Sponsored by Phillips 66