SGER: Smectite Incubation of Organic Molecules in Seafloor Hydrothermal Systems

PI提出了一项实验研究，以考察蒙脱石通过I/S(伊利石/蒙皂石)过渡结构状态转化为伊利石如何影响有机分子的催化作用。基本上，简单的有机分子可能保存在层间蒙脱石位置，而蒙脱石转化为伊利石。这种矿物学变化可能会在今天的热液系统和早期地球中催化形成更复杂的有机产品，并对生命的起源产生影响。这个想法是，聚合的有机物将通过处于层间位置而受到保护。实验将在300摄氏度、250摄氏度、200摄氏度和250巴的温度下进行，对于海底热液系统来说，这是一个合适的压力。实验将探索不同起始浓度、Eh、pH和盐度条件对聚合有机分子催化作用的影响。一些实验将在密封的胶囊中进行，而另一些实验将在大型容器中进行，随着蒙脱石转变为伊利石，可以不时地对其进行采样，层间有机物可能也会以有趣的方式发生变化。实验材料将用XRF、GCMS、HPLC、IC和FTIR+MALDI-TOF进行分析，MALDI-TOF是一种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.