CAREER: Mechanistic Understanding of Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Transformations in Hydrothermal Systems

从洋壳喷出的热液是深层生物圈有机碳(C)和氮(N)的来源。有机碳和有机氮为深海生态系统提供食物和能量，在海洋碳、氮循环中起着重要作用。该项目将探讨有机碳和氮如何在海底热液系统中产生和降解，特别是地球上丰富的矿物和金属如何影响这些有机化合物的命运和转化。该项目旨在建立地球科学和化学之间的跨学科项目，并在研究和教育之间进行强有力的整合。拟议的项目将为本科生和研究生提供培训和研究机会，特别是为那些代表人数不足的群体和少数民族提供培训和研究机会。该教育计划还将有助于奥克兰大学地球科学和环境科学研究生项目的发展。确定水热化学和有机碳和氮的路径对于理解深海有机资源清单的输入和输出、揭示深层生物圈的食物和能源以及预测未来海洋岩石圈的碳和氮排放至关重要。解开这些热液途径和机制是全面了解深海有机碳和氮的合成、转化和循环的第一步。该项目将开发新的化学方法和有机体系模型，以解决以下方面的知识空白：(I)有机碳的C-C键断裂和形成机制以及有机碳的水热氧化还原化学；(Ii)有机氮的水热合成途径及其相互转化。这项研究将特别关注矿物和溶解金属在热液中有机转化中的作用，一系列分析技术将有助于研究这些有机-无机相互作用，包括气相色谱和液相色谱、高分辨率质谱学、拉曼光谱、电子显微镜和X射线衍射。此外，该项目将通过将可持续发展的概念纳入地球科学研究，创新性地将热液地球化学与可持续化学联系起来。使用地球上丰富的材料作为绿色催化剂/试剂进行化学合成的Geomimicry工具箱也将进一步开发，以应对工业挑战并扩大绿色化学的可持续资源范围。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Hydrothermal fluids venting from the oceanic crust are a source of organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) for the deep biosphere. Organic C and N provide food and energy for the deep ocean ecosystems and play an important role in oceanic C and N cycles. This project will explore how organic C and N are generated and degraded in seafloor hydrothermal systems, and in particular, how Earth-abundant minerals and metals influence the fate and transformations of these organic compounds. This project aims to establish an interdisciplinary program between geoscience and chemistry, with a strong integration between research and education. The proposed project will provide training and research opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students, especially for those from underrepresented groups and ethnic minorities. The education plan will also contribute to the development of a new graduate program in geoscience and environmental science at Oakland University.Identifying the hydrothermal chemistry and pathways of organic C and N is vital for understanding the input and output of deep ocean organic inventory, uncovering food and energy sources in the deep biosphere, and predicting future C and N emissions from the oceanic lithosphere. Unlocking these hydrothermal pathways and mechanisms represents the first step toward a comprehensive understanding of organic C and N synthesis, transformation, and cycling in the deep ocean. This project will develop new chemical approaches and model organic systems to address the knowledge gaps in: (i) C-C bond breaking and forming mechanisms and hydrothermal redox chemistry of organic C; and (ii) hydrothermal synthetic pathways of organic N and their interconversions. The research will particularly focus on the roles of minerals and dissolved metals in organic transformations in hydrothermal fluids, and a suite of analytical techniques including gas and liquid chromatography, high-resolution mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction will assist in investigating these organic-inorganic interactions. In addition, the project will innovatively bridge hydrothermal geochemistry to sustainable chemistry via incorporating the concept of sustainability into geoscience research. Geomimicry toolbox that uses Earth-abundant materials as green catalysts/reagents for chemical synthesis will also be further developed to address challenges in industry and expand the range of sustainable resources for green chemistry.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.