SGER: Smectite Incubation of Organic Molecules in Seafloor Hydrothermal Systems

PIs提出了一项实验研究，以研究通过I/S（伊利石/蒙脱石）过渡结构态将蒙脱石转化为伊利石如何影响有机分子的催化作用。基本上，当蒙脱石转化为伊利石时，简单的有机分子可能被保留在层间的蒙脱石位置上。这种矿物学上的变化可能会在当今的热液系统和早期地球中催化更复杂的有机产物的形成，这对生命的起源有影响。这个想法是聚合的有机物会被保护在层间的位置。实验将在300摄氏度、250摄氏度和200摄氏度下进行，250巴是海底热液系统的适当压力。实验将探讨不同的起始浓度、Eh、pH和盐度条件对聚合有机分子的催化作用。一些实验将在密封的胶囊中进行，而另一些实验将在大容器中进行，随着蒙脱石变成伊利石，可以不时地取样，层间有机物可能也会以有趣的方式发生变化。实验材料将使用XRF， GCMS， HPLC， IC， FTIR和MALDI-TOF进行分析，MALDI-TOF是一种用于原位分析固体上少量有机物的新技术。

The PIs propose an experimental study to examine how the catalysis of organic molecules may be influenced by the conversion of smectite to illite via the I/S (illite/smectite) transitional structural states. Basically, simple organic molecules may be held in interlayer smectite sites while the smectite converts to illite. This mineralogic change could catalyze the formation of more complex organic products in present day hydrothermal systems and the early earth, with implications for the origin of life. The idea is that the polymerized organics would be protected by being in interlayer positions. Experiments will be conducted at 300 degrees C, 250 degrees C, and 200 degrees C, and 250 bars, an appropriate pressure for seafloor hydrothermal systems. Experiments will explore the effects of different starting concentrations, Eh, pH, and salinity conditions on catalysis of polymerized organic molecules. Some experiments will be in sealed capsules, whereas others will be in large vessels that can be sampled from time to time as the smectite changes to illite, with interlayer organics presumably also changing in interesting ways. The experimental materials will be analyzed with XRF, GCMS, HPLC, IC, and FTIR plus MALDI-TOF, a new technique for analyzing small amounts of organics on solids in situ.