Disclosed are a method of solidifying a low-boiling-point hydrocarbon,
wherein the low-boiling-point hydrocarbon (including hydrocarbons which
are gaseous at ordinary temperature) is brought into contact with a metal
salt of an aliphatic carboxylic acid, and if necessary a
high-boiling-point hydrocarbon, suspended in water, to form a solid
aggregate substance, a method of handling the low-boiling-point
hydrocarbon, wherein the solid aggregate substance is stored or
transported, and a method of regenerating the low-boiling-point
hydrocarbon, wherein the solid aggregate substance is decomposed by
opening or heating, to obtain the low-boiling-point hydrocarbon. According
to the methods, a wide variety of gaseous and highly volatile liquid
hydrocarbons can be safely and easily solidified without using harmful
reagent, and during storage, transportation, etc., the gaseous
hydrocarbons and highly volatile liquids can be handled as a solid
material. Further, by releasing under atmospheric pressure at room
temperature or by heating if necessary, the original hydrocarbons can be
easily obtained, and the metal salt of a carboxylic acid can also be
repeatedly used.