Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
May 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011iaus..280p.127v&link_type=abstract
The Molecular Universe, Posters from the proceedings of the 280th Symposium of the International Astronomical Union held in Tole
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
We simulate in laboratory, the chemical evolution of the interstellar ices containing CH3OH, H2CO, HCOOH, NH3, CO2, H2O molecules. These ice analogs are submitted to hydrogenation, VUV irradiation or thermal processes which alter the ice composition and which leave after sublimation of volatile species a refractory residue analog of cometary grains. This evolution is followed by infrared and mass spectroscopy allowing product characterizations and the study of reactional mechanism. Here, we report the HMT (hexamethylenetetramine) formation which is one of the most abundant molecules found in the organic residues from an ice mixture containing H2CO/NH3/H2O molecules. We show for the first time that HMT can be thermically yielded when formic acid (HCOOH) is added in the previous mixture. We demonstrate that HCOOH plays a catalyst role and aminomethanol (NH2CH2OH) is a key intermediate in the HMT formation mechanism. Therefore, VUV irradiation of ice analogs is not necessary to yield HMT. These results strengthen the hypothesis of the presence of HMT molecule as complex organic molecule in interstellar grains or in comets, where it may be detected with the COSAC instrument of the Rosetta mission.
Borget F.
Chiavassa T.
Danger Grégoire
Duvernay F.
Theule Patrice
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