Terahertz spectroscopy on CO2-CH4 β-hydroquinone clathrate replacement reaction

Gas clathrates contain more of the earth’s hydrocarbon resources than all other forms combined, and therefore provide both a source of energy and an option for carbon sequestration. We performed a gas replacement reaction in hydroquinone clathrate in a high pressure cell, first creating a CO 2 clathrate and then replacing the CO 2 with CH 4 , and observed the spectra continuously throughout both reactions with terahertz time domain spectroscopy. The absorbance spectra show the initial enclathration phase transition and the replacement reaction from CO 2 clathrate to CH 4 clathrate.