Scientists are searching for new technologies that could help the world reach carbon neutrality. One potential solution is to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions in the form of hydrates under ocean floor sediments, kept in place by the natural pressure created by the weight of the seawater above. Now researchers have demonstrated experimental evidence of the stability of carbon dioxide hydrates in oceanic sediments — an essential step in making this carbon storage technology a viable reality.

One potential solution that is drawing growing attention is to capture and store carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in the form of hydrates under ocean floor sediments, kept in place by the natural pressure created by the weight of the seawater above. A major question, however, has been how stable this stored CO₂ would be for the extended periods of storage required to keep the carbon in place and out of the atmosphere.

Now researchers from the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering have demonstrated the first-ever experimental evidence of the stability of CO₂ hydrates in oceanic sediments — an essential step in making this carbon storage technology a viable reality.

«It’s the first of its kind experimental evidence that we hope is going to spur further activity on this technology development,» said Professor Praveen Linga, the lead researcher of the study. The team’s findings — part of a project funded through the Singapore Energy Centre — were first published in scientific journal Chemical Engineering Journal.

Using a specially designed laboratory reactor the NUS team showed that CO₂ hydrates can remain stable in oceanic sediments for a period of up to 30 days. Going forward, the team says, the same process can be used to validate the stability of CO₂ hydrates for much longer periods.

Trapped in ice-like substances

At low-temperature and under high-pressure conditions created by the ocean, CO₂ can be trapped within water molecules, forming an ice-like substance. These CO₂ hydrates form at a temperature just above the freezing point of water and can store as much as 184 cubic metres of CO₂ in one cubic meter of hydrates.

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Materials provided by National University of Singapore. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.