Separation of methane from gas mixtures

A system for separation of C1 gas from at least C2+ gas comprising a hydrate formation reactor (HFR) that comprises an outer container configured:

• with a plurality of stages arranged with a first stage proximal a first end of the container and second and any subsequent stages successively more proximal a second end of the container;
• one or more gas feed inlets placed at a distance distal from the first end of the container the same as said distance of a stage that is a second or subsequent stage and configured to feed a gas stream into the container;
• one or more aqueous solution inlets configured to feed an aqueous solution stream into the second end of the container or proximate thereto;
• one or more hydrate slurry outlet configured to permit a draw off a hydrate slurry stream from the first end of the container or proximate thereto;
• one or more gas or liquid product outlets configured to draw off a gas or liquid product stream, respectively, from the second end of the container or proximate thereto;
• and
• a temperature control system, within the outer container, effective to establish a temperature ramp from a first temperature T1 in a region proximate to the first end of the container to a second temperature T2 in a region proximate to the second end of the container, wherein T1>T2;
• wherein the gas stream and the aqueous solution stream are arranged to flow in a countercurrent manner through the container.