Clathrate hydrate technology for water reclamation: Present status and future prospects

Clathrate hydrates are gaining interest in their applications in the area of energy and the environment. They are also being considered for recovering clean water from brackish water, seawater, wastewater, and industrial effluents. Water reclamation via clathrate hydrate is based on the formation, separation, and dissociation of hydrate crystals devoid of salt and metal ions from saline/wastewater. A comprehensive review of studies undertaken to date on the application of clathrate hydrates as promising carrier for water desalination/treatment is presented. Both fundamental and technological advancements in the clathrate hydrate technology are reported to establish its feasibility and potential for producing quality water from waste effluents. The hydrate forming agent and kinetic promoters have been found to be important factors for faster hydrate formation and subsequent water recovery. Several developments towards novel reactor design, efficient separation & washing methods, hybrid hydrate-membrane processes, multi-functional devices etc. present a strong case for considering the clathrate hydrate technique as an available alternative for water reclamation in near future.