Importance of the interaction between sodium silicate and organic materials to astrobiology: alcohol-based organo-silicates as potential biosignatures

Details Importance of the interaction between sodium silicate and organic materials to astrobiology: alcohol-based organo-silicates as potential biosignatures Importance of the interaction between sodium silicate and organic materials to astrobiology: alcohol-based organo-silicates as potential biosignatures

Oct 2007

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007spie.6694e...4l&link_type=abstract

Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology X. Edited by Hoover, Richard B.; Levin, Gilbert V.; Rozanov, Alexei Y.; Dav

Biology

Scientific paper

We have found that alcohols catalyze a rapid polymerization of silicic acid to silica gel upon the addition of alcohols. Like amino acids, alcohols could be preserved in the silica gel by two mechanisms. In the first mechanism, the alcohols become entombed in the silica gel. In this case, only Si-O-Si bonds would be observed in the infrared (IR) spectra. In the second mechanism, the alcohols make chemical bonds with the silicic acid, to create organo-silicates. In this case, Si-O-C bonds would be observed in the IR. We have found that steric hindrance plays a major role in the volume of an alcohol required. Amino alcohols are more effective in creating a viscous gel than the alcohols, and appeared to form covalent Si-O-C bonds in some cases. Characteristic shifts in the Si-O-Si bands of over 50 cm-1 towards lower IR frequencies can be observed in the alcohol gels. The hydrolysis of known organo-silicates has led to the identification of the Si-O-C band in the region of 1225-1150 cm-1, and the Si-O-Si band in the region of 1125-1000 cm-1. Alcohols play an important role in many biological pathways, and could serve as biosignatures in extreme environments including meteorites and other planets.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Importance of the interaction between sodium silicate and organic materials to astrobiology: alcohol-based organo-silicates as potential biosignatures does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Importance of the interaction between sodium silicate and organic materials to astrobiology: alcohol-based organo-silicates as potential biosignatures, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Importance of the interaction between sodium silicate and organic materials to astrobiology: alcohol-based organo-silicates as potential biosignatures will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-954823