Prediction of the three-phase coexistence line of the ethane hydrate from molecular simulation

We investigate the three-phase coexistence line of ethane (C2H6) hydrate through molecular dynamics simulations using the direct coexistence approach. In this framework, C2H6 sI hydrate, aqueous, and pure guest phases are con- structed within a single simulation box, allowing us to monitor their mut...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Gómez Álvarez, Paula, Torrejón, Miguel J., Algaba Fernández, Jesús, Jiménez Blas, Felipe
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Huelva (UHU)
Repositorio:Arias Montano. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ariasmontano.uhu.es:10272/27749
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10272/27749
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ethane hydrate
Molecular simulation
Phase equilibrium
Dissociation line
Interfacial properties
2210 Química Física
23 Química
Descripción
Sumario:We investigate the three-phase coexistence line of ethane (C2H6) hydrate through molecular dynamics simulations using the direct coexistence approach. In this framework, C2H6 sI hydrate, aqueous, and pure guest phases are con- structed within a single simulation box, allowing us to monitor their mutual stability. From the temporal evolution of the potential energy, we identify the equilibrium temperature (T3) at which all three phases coexist, across pressures ranging from 1000 to 4000bar, in accordance with available experimental data. Simulations are performed with the GROMACS package (version 2016, double precision) in the NPT ensemble. Water and C2H6 molecules are repre- sented using the TIP4P/Ice and TraPPE-UA models, respectively, while unlike non-bonded interactions are computed with the Lorentz-Berthelot combining rule. Dispersive Lennard-Jones and Coulomb interactions are truncated at 1.6 nm, with long-range Coulombic contributions treated via Particle-Mesh Ewald summation. The predicted three-phase coex- istence line shows excellent agreement with experimental measurements within the investigated pressure range. These results demonstrate the suitability of the direct coexistence methodology, combined with established molecular models, for reproducing hydrate dissociation behavior in systems that have received little prior computational attention.