Astrobiological Implications of Titan Tholin in Methane Lakes

Details Astrobiological Implications of Titan Tholin in Methane Lakes Astrobiological Implications of Titan Tholin in Methane Lakes

Oct 2010

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010dps....42.3619k&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #42, #36.19; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.1068

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We report here on our ongoing research in the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at NASA Ames Research Center dedicated to determine the degree of solubility of Titan tholin in the methane-ethane lakes. Our work is also directed toward confirming the presence of any astrobiologically significant molecules via hydrolysis and pyrolysis of a simulated lake sample.
Our previous work conducted at Cornell University and subsequently in the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at NASA Ames Research Center has established that Titan tholin produces amino acids (Khare et al. Icarus 1986) on hydrolysis, and many compounds including adenine on pyrolysis (Khare et al. Adv. Space Res. 1984). Also, our previous work by Thompson et al. (Icarus 1991) has clearly indicated that when energy is supplied to Titan's atmospheric composition (methane and nitrogen), tholin results from hundreds of contemporary compounds, including highly reactive compounds such as azides and isocyanides. Cassini showed that photolysis of methane produces benzene and many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, along with compounds with very high molecular weights (up to 10000 amu), resulting from the photolytic reactions of CH4 with nitrogen. These heavy aerosols, termed "tholins” by Sagan and Khare (Nature 1979), are also synthesized when Titan intercepts charged particles from the magnetosphere of Saturn. Tholins resulting from both of these syntheses eventually descend to the surface of Titan, where some quantity collects in the methane-ethane lakes.
This research is supported by a grant from Planetary Atmospheres.

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