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

大洋地壳热液是深部生物圈有机碳和氮的重要来源。有机碳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。该项目将探索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。该项目旨在建立一个地球科学和化学之间的跨学科计划，研究和教育之间的紧密结合。拟议的项目将为本科生和研究生提供培训和研究机会，特别是那些来自代表性不足的群体和少数民族的学生。该教育计划还将有助于奥克兰大学开发一个新的地球科学和环境科学研究生课程。确定有机C和N的热液化学和途径对于了解深海有机清单的输入和输出，揭示深生物圈中的食物和能源以及预测未来海洋岩石圈的C和N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C和N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系统模型，以填补以下方面的知识空白：（i）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。该研究将特别关注矿物和溶解金属在热液流体中的有机转化中的作用，一套分析技术，包括气相色谱和液相色谱，高分辨率质谱，拉曼光谱，电子显微镜和X射线衍射将有助于调查这些有机-无机相互作用。此外，该项目将通过将可持续性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。将地球上丰富的材料用作化学合成的绿色催化剂/试剂的地球模拟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知识价值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.