Clathrate Hydrates

Abstract

Water is a mysterious substance; being hydrophilic (by definition), it can capture hydrophobic or hydrophobic-hydrophilic species forming different kinds of hydrate inclusion compounds. Hydrate inclusion compounds can be formed by a variety of molecules and molecular associates, which are commonly referred to as guests. Common to all these compounds is the presence of a more or less complex framework built of hydrogen-bonded water molecules. This framework is commonly referred to as the host framework. The chapter deals with two major issues associated with clathration of natural methane by water: (1) possible uses and state of the art in methane hydrate exploitation and (2) disaster risks associated with possible eruptions of methane from submarine deposits being the major component of natural methane stored on Earth.