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Huld S, McMahon S, Sjöberg S, Huang P, Neubeck A. Chemical Gardens Mimic Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectra and Morphology of Biogenic Mn Oxides. ASTROBIOLOGY 2023; 23:24-32. [PMID: 36450112 PMCID: PMC9810355 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Manganese (Mn) oxides are ubiquitous in nature and occur as both biological and abiotic minerals, but empirically distinguishing between the two remains a problem. Recently, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy has been proposed for this purpose. It has been reported that biogenic Mn oxides display a characteristic narrow linewidth in contrast to their pure abiotic counterparts, which is explained in part by the large number of cation vacancies that form within the layers of biogenic Mn oxides. It was, therefore, proposed that natural samples that display a narrow EPR linewidth, ΔHpp < 580G, could be assigned to a biogenic origin. However, in poorly crystalline or amorphous solids, both dipolar broadening and exchange narrowing simultaneously determine the linewidth. Considering that the spectral linewidth is governed by several mechanisms, this approach might be questioned. In this study, we report synthetic chemical garden Mn oxide biomorphs that exhibit both morphologically life-like structures and narrow EPR linewidths, suggesting that a narrow EPR line may be unsuitable as reliable evidence in assessment of biogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigrid Huld
- Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sean McMahon
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Susanne Sjöberg
- Department of Geological Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ping Huang
- Department of Chemistry, Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Neubeck
- Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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2
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Angelis G, Katsanou ME, Giannopoulos-Dimitriou A, Vizirianakis IS, Pampalakis G. Generation of chemobrionic jellyfishes that mechanically divide, grow and exhibit biomimetic “symbiosis”. CHEMSYSTEMSCHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/syst.202200001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Angelis
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki: Aristoteleio Panepistemio Thessalonikes Pharmacy GREECE
| | - Maria-Eleni Katsanou
- Aristoteleio Panepistimio Thessalonikis: Aristoteleio Panepistemio Thessalonikes Pharmacy GREECE
| | | | - Ioannis S. Vizirianakis
- Aristoteleio Panepistimio Thessalonikis: Aristoteleio Panepistemio Thessalonikes Pharmacy GREECE
| | - Georgios Pampalakis
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Pharmacy Pharmacy Panepistimioupolis 54124 Thessaloniki GREECE
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Getenet M, García-Ruiz JM, Otálora F, Emmerling F, Al-Sabbagh D, Verdugo-Escamilla C. A Comprehensive Methodology for Monitoring Evaporitic Mineral Precipitation and Hydrochemical Evolution of Saline Lakes: The Case of Lake Magadi Soda Brine (East African Rift Valley, Kenya). CRYSTAL GROWTH & DESIGN 2022; 22:2307-2317. [PMID: 35401055 PMCID: PMC8991015 DOI: 10.1021/acs.cgd.1c01391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Lake Magadi, East African Rift Valley, is a hyperalkaline and saline soda lake highly enriched in Na+, K+, CO3 2-, Cl-, HCO3 -, and SiO2 and depleted in Ca2+ and Mg2+, where thick evaporite deposits and siliceous sediments have been forming for 100 000 years. The hydrogeochemistry and the evaporite deposits of soda lakes are subjects of growing interest in paleoclimatology, astrobiology, and planetary sciences. In Lake Magadi, different hydrates of sodium carbonate/bicarbonate and other saline minerals precipitate. The precipitation sequence of these minerals is a key for understanding the hydrochemical evolution, the paleoenvironmental conditions of ancient evaporite deposits, and industrial crystallization. However, accurate determination of the precipitation sequence of these minerals was challenging due to the dependency of the different hydrates on temperature, water activity, pH and pCO2, which could induce phase transformation and secondary mineral precipitation during sample handling. Here, we report a comprehensive methodology applied for monitoring the evaporitic mineral precipitation and hydrochemical evolution of Lake Magadi. Evaporation and mineral precipitations were monitored by using in situ video microscopy and synchrotron X-ray diffraction of acoustically levitated droplets. The mineral patterns were characterized by ex situ Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Experiments were coupled with thermodynamic models to understand the evaporation and precipitation-driven hydrochemical evolution of brines. Our results closely reproduced the mineral assemblages, patterns, and textural relations observed in the natural setting. Alkaline earth carbonates and fluorite were predicted to precipitate first followed by siliceous sediments. Among the salts, dendritic and acicular trona precipitate first via fractional crystallization-reminiscent of grasslike trona layers of Lake Magadi. Halite/villiaumite, thermonatrite, and sylvite precipitate sequentially after trona from residual brines depleted in HCO3 -. The precipitation of these minerals between trona crystals resembles the precipitation process observed in the interstitial brines of the trona layers. Thermonatrite precipitation began after trona equilibrated with the residual brines due to the absence of excess CO2 input. We have shown that evaporation and mineral precipitation are the major drivers for the formation of hyperalkaline, saline, and SiO2-rich brines. The discrepancy between predicted and actual sulfate and phosphate ion concentrations implies the biological cycling of these ions. The combination of different in situ and ex situ methods and modeling is key to understanding the mineral phases, precipitation sequences, and textural relations of modern and ancient evaporite deposits. The synergy of these methods could be applicable in industrial crystallization and natural brines to reconstruct the hydrogeochemical and hydroclimatic conditions of soda lakes, evaporite settings, and potentially soda oceans of early Earth and extraterrestrial planets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melese Getenet
- Laboratorio
de Estudios Cristalográficos, Instituto
Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (CSIC-UGR), Avenida de las Palmeras 4, Armilla, E-18100 Granada, Spain
| | - Juan Manuel García-Ruiz
- Laboratorio
de Estudios Cristalográficos, Instituto
Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (CSIC-UGR), Avenida de las Palmeras 4, Armilla, E-18100 Granada, Spain
| | - Fermín Otálora
- Laboratorio
de Estudios Cristalográficos, Instituto
Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (CSIC-UGR), Avenida de las Palmeras 4, Armilla, E-18100 Granada, Spain
| | - Franziska Emmerling
- Federal
Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dominik Al-Sabbagh
- Federal
Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Richard-Willstätter-Straße 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Cristóbal Verdugo-Escamilla
- Laboratorio
de Estudios Cristalográficos, Instituto
Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (CSIC-UGR), Avenida de las Palmeras 4, Armilla, E-18100 Granada, Spain
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Dynamic diffusion and precipitation processes across calcium silicate membranes. J Colloid Interface Sci 2022; 618:206-218. [PMID: 35338927 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.03.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS Chemical gardens are tubular inorganic structures exhibiting complex morphologies and interesting dynamic properties upon ageing, with coupled diffusion and precipitation processes keeping the systems out of equilibrium for extended periods of time. Calcium-based silica gardens should comprise membranes that mimic the microstructures occurring in ordinary Portland cement and/or silicate gel layers observed around highly reactive siliceous aggregates in concrete. EXPERIMENTS Single macroscopic silica garden tubes were prepared using pellets of calcium chloride and sodium silicate solution. The composition of the mineralized tubes was characterized by means of various ex-situ techniques, while time-dependent monitoring of the solutions enclosed by and surrounding the membrane gives insight into the spatiotemporal distribution of the different ionic species. The latter data reflect transport properties and precipitation reactions in the system, thus allowing its complex dynamic behavior to be resolved. FINDINGS The results show that in contrast to the previously studied cases of iron- and cobalt-based silica gardens, the formed calcium silicate membrane is homogeneous and ultimately becomes impermeable to all species except water, hydroxide and sodium ions, resulting in the permanent conservation of considerable concentration gradients across the membrane. The insights gained in this work may help elucidate the nature and mechanisms of ion diffusion in Portland cements and concrete, especially those occurring during initial hydration of calcium silicates and the so-called alkali-silica reaction (ASR), one of the major concrete deterioration mechanisms causing serious problems with respect to the durability of concrete and the restricted use of many potential sources of raw materials.
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Getenet M, Rieder J, Kellermeier M, Kunz W, Manuel García-Ruiz J. Tubular Structures of Calcium Carbonate: Formation, Characterization, and Implications in Natural Mineral Environments. Chemistry 2021; 27:16135-16144. [PMID: 34590745 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202101417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Chemical gardens are self-assembled tubular precipitates formed by a combination of osmosis, buoyancy, and chemical reaction, and thought to be capable of catalyzing prebiotic condensation reactions. In many cases, the tube wall is a bilayer structure with the properties of a diaphragm and/or a membrane. The interest in silica gardens as microreactors for materials science has increased over the past decade because of their ability to create long-lasting electrochemical potential. In this study, we have grown single macroscopic tubes based on calcium carbonate and monitored their time-dependent behavior by in situ measurements of pH, ionic concentrations inside and outside the tubular membranes, and electrochemical potential differences. Furthermore, we have characterized the composition and structure of the tubular membranes by using ex situ X-ray diffraction, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, as well as scanning electron microscopy. Based on the collected data, we propose a physicochemical mechanism for the formation and ripening of these peculiar CaCO3 structures and compare the results to those of other chemical garden systems. We find that the wall of the macroscopic calcium carbonate tubes is a bilayer of texturally distinct but compositionally similar calcite showing high crystallinity. The resulting high density of the material prevents macroscopic calcium carbonate gardens from developing significant electrochemical potential differences. In the light of these observations, possible implications in materials science and prebiotic (geo)chemistry are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melese Getenet
- Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (CSIC-UGR), Avenida de las Palmeras 4, Armilla, 18100, Granada, Spain
| | - Julian Rieder
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Kellermeier
- Material Physics, BASF SE, RAA/OS-B007, Carl-Bosch-Strasse 38, 67056, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
| | - Werner Kunz
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Regensburg, 93053, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Juan Manuel García-Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (CSIC-UGR), Avenida de las Palmeras 4, Armilla, 18100, Granada, Spain
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Bizzarri BM, Saladino R, Delfino I, García-Ruiz JM, Di Mauro E. Prebiotic Organic Chemistry of Formamide and the Origin of Life in Planetary Conditions: What We Know and What Is the Future. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020917. [PMID: 33477625 PMCID: PMC7831497 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of prebiotic chemistry is the depiction of molecular evolution events preceding the emergence of life on Earth or elsewhere in the cosmos. Plausible experimental models require geochemical scenarios and robust chemistry. Today we know that the chemical and physical conditions for life to flourish on Earth were at work much earlier than thought, i.e., earlier than 4.4 billion years ago. In recent years, a geochemical model for the first five hundred million years of the history of our planet has been devised that would work as a cradle for life. Serpentinization processes in the Hadean eon affording self-assembled structures and vesicles provides the link between the catalytic properties of the inorganic environment and the impressive chemical potential of formamide to produce complete panels of organic molecules relevant in pre-genetic and pre-metabolic processes. Based on an interdisciplinary approach, we propose basic transformations connecting geochemistry to the chemistry of formamide, and we hint at the possible extension of this perspective to other worlds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Mattia Bizzarri
- Ecological and Biological Sciences Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (B.M.B.); (I.D.); (E.D.M.)
| | - Raffaele Saladino
- Ecological and Biological Sciences Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (B.M.B.); (I.D.); (E.D.M.)
- Correspondence: (R.S.); (J.M.G.-R.)
| | - Ines Delfino
- Ecological and Biological Sciences Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (B.M.B.); (I.D.); (E.D.M.)
| | - Juan Manuel García-Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas–Universidad de Granada, Avenida de las Palmeras 4, Armilla, 18100 Granada, Spain
- Correspondence: (R.S.); (J.M.G.-R.)
| | - Ernesto Di Mauro
- Ecological and Biological Sciences Department (DEB), University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy; (B.M.B.); (I.D.); (E.D.M.)
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Angelis G, Kordopati GG, Zingkou E, Karioti A, Sotiropoulou G, Pampalakis G. Plausible Emergence of Biochemistry in Enceladus Based on Chemobrionics. Chemistry 2021; 27:600-604. [PMID: 33108005 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202004018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Saturn's satellite Enceladus is proposed to have a soda-type subsurface ocean with temperature able to support life and an iron ore-based core. Here, it was demonstrated that ocean chemistry related to Enceladus can support the development of Fe-based hydrothermal vents, one of the places suggested to be the cradle of life. The Fe-based chemical gardens were characterized with Fourier-transform (FT)IR spectroscopy and XRD. The developed chemobrionic structures catalyzed the condensation polymerization of simple organic prebiotic molecules to kerogens. Further, they could passively catalyze the condensation of the prebiotic molecule formamide to larger polymers, suggesting that elementary biochemical precursors could have emerged in Enceladus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Angelis
- Department of Pharmacognosy-Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Golfo G Kordopati
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504, Rion-Patras, Greece
| | - Eleni Zingkou
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504, Rion-Patras, Greece
| | - Anastasia Karioti
- Department of Pharmacognosy-Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Georgia Sotiropoulou
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504, Rion-Patras, Greece
| | - Georgios Pampalakis
- Department of Pharmacognosy-Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Bernini F, Castellini E, Sebastianelli L, Bighi B, Sainz‐Díaz CI, Mucci A, Malferrari D, Ranieri A, Brigatti MF, Borsari M. Self‐Assembled Structures from Solid Cadmium(II) Acetate in Thiol/Ethanol Solutions: A Novel Type of Organic Chemical Garden. CHEMSYSTEMSCHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/syst.202000048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Bernini
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Via Campi 103 41125 Modena Italy
| | - Elena Castellini
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Via Campi 103 41125 Modena Italy
| | - Lorenzo Sebastianelli
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Via Campi 103 41125 Modena Italy
| | - Beatrice Bighi
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Via Campi 103 41125 Modena Italy
| | - Claro Ignacio Sainz‐Díaz
- Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (CSIC-UGR) Av. de las Palmeras, 4 18100 Armilla Granada Spain
| | - Adele Mucci
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Via Campi 103 41125 Modena Italy
| | - Daniele Malferrari
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Via Campi 103 41125 Modena Italy
| | - Antonio Ranieri
- Department of Life Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Via Campi 103 41125 Modena Italy
| | - Maria Franca Brigatti
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Via Campi 103 41125 Modena Italy
| | - Marco Borsari
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences University of Modena and Reggio Emilia Via Campi 103 41125 Modena Italy
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