(245e) Harnessing Clathrate Hydrates for Energy-Efficient Carbon Management

Gas hydrate-based technologies present a promising approach for integrated carbon capture, transport, and sequestration (CCTS), offering a potential pathway toward reducing anthropogenic CO₂ emissions at scale. Clathrate hydrates—crystalline water-based solids that trap gas molecules within cage-like structures—enable selective and efficient encapsulation of CO₂ under moderate pressure and temperature conditions.

This work explores the fundamentals and advancements in CO₂ hydrate formation, highlighting recent progress in kinetics enhancement, hydrate-promoting additives, and reactor design to improve capture efficiency. Moreover, we discuss the viability of transporting captured CO₂ in hydrate form, leveraging its stability and high volumetric density to reduce infrastructure and energy costs compared to conventional methods. Finally, the potential for long-term CO₂ sequestration in deep-sea or sub-seafloor sediments as naturally stable hydrate phases is evaluated. This integrated hydrate-based CCTS framework could offer a lower-energy, scalable alternative to traditional carbon management strategies. Ongoing challenges and future research directions are also outlined to guide the development of practical and sustainable hydrate-based systems.