Terahertz spectroscopy on CO₂-CH₄ -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 CO2 clathrate and then replacing the CO2 with CH4, 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 CO2 clathrate to CH4 clathrate.