METHOD FOR CRYSTALLISING CLATHRATE HYDRATES, AND METHOD FOR PURIFYING AN AQUEOUS LIQUID USING THE CLATHRATE HYDRATES THUS CRYSTALLISED

摘要

A method for forming, or crystallising, clathrates hydrates of a host molecule in a liquid including water includes the following consecutive steps: cooling the liquid to a temperature no higher than the crystallisation temperature of the clathrates hydrates; and placing the cooled liquid in contact with host molecules that are capable of forming clathrates hydrates and are adsorbed on a solid support that has a large specific surface area and is made of a hydrophobic and apolar material, whereby the host molecules are desorbed from the solid support that has a large specific surface area and is made of a hydrophobic and apolar material, and react with the water of the liquid in order to provide a liquid containing clathrates hydrates and the solid support.