Secondary nucleation in the formation of methane crystal hydrate

Abstract

The kinetic data on crystallization and a morphological analysis of a layer of CH4 · 6H2O hydrate crystals formed on the surface of water as a result of methane absorption showed that secondary nucleation occurred during hydrate crystallization. The mutual arrangement of crystals in the layer revealed photographically in situ was evidence that part of nuclei produced on the surface of previously formed crystals went away from the surface into solution and grew there independently of “mother” crystals, although the probability of such transfer into an immobile solution remained low. In view of this, a model of crystal growth generating secondary crystals was developed.