Exploitation of natural gases such as methane is now seen as a clean and transitional fossil energy towards zero carbon. Finding efficient and low-cost storage of these gases is a key issue in this context. 

To store methane in a stable, recoverable, compact and safe solid form, it is possible to enclose it in "ice" cages also known as clathrate hydrates. However, the synthesis of these structures is a long and expensive process. The use of green and affordable materials such as zeolites and some amino acids acting as kinetic promoters is a solution studied by chemists such as Ahmed Omran, PhD student at ENSI Caen.

This graphical abstract shows the use of sea water and the different levels of gas absorption depending on different zeolites (USY-10/USY-40) and amino acids (L-Tryptophan/L-Valine) used in this "zeolitic ice" forming process.