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Synthesis in prebiotic clay environments induced by radiation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 June 2005

A. Negron-Mendoza
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, UNAM, A.P. 70-543, 04510 Mexico D.F.
S. Ramos-Bernal
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, UNAM, A.P. 70-543, 04510 Mexico D.F.
F.G. Mosqueira
Affiliation:
Dirección General de Divulgación de la Ciencia, UNAM. Cd. Universitaria, A.P. 70-487, 04510 México D.F. e-mail: gmosque@universum.unam.mx

Abstract

In this paper we exemplify a biased synthesis that can be relevant in primitive scenarios. We perform experiments simulating a possible prebiotic environment, in which an organic compound is adsorbed in soil and exposed to an energy source. To this end, carboxylic acids were adsorbed in a clay mineral and the systems were exposed to radiation. We observed that radiation decomposition in solution changes drastically if the system contains a clay mineral. Both solid surfaces and radiation play an important role.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2005 Cambridge University Press

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