Behavior of Poly-A onto Kaolin

 

• María Guadalupe Torres-Duque
  Faculty of Higher Education Iztacala, National Autonomous University of Mexico. Avenida de los Barrios Number 1, Colonia Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, State of Mexico
• Claudia Camargo-Raya
  Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico. Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Mexico City
• Alicia Negrón-Mendoza
  Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico. Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Mexico City
• Sergio Ramos-Bernal
  Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico. Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Mexico City

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15415/jnp.2020.72017

Keywords: Poly-A, Clays, Kaolin, Chemical evolution

Abstract

A combination of geochemical variables is necessary to explain the origin of life on Earth. Thus, in this work the sorption of Poly-A on a clay mineral (kaolinite) was studied to get an insight about the sorption capacity at different times and pH values, as well as to confirm the capabilities of the clay to protect the sorbate from an external source of ionizing radiation. Poly-A presented a high percentage of sorption in the clay, especially in acidic environments, and this percentage sharply decrease in alkaline media. On the other hand, Poly-A’s recovery was higher in the system with clay, confirming its protection role.

 

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Issue

Vol 7 No 2 (2020): Special Issue 

 

 

How to Cite

María Guadalupe Torres-Duque; Claudia Camargo-Raya; Alicia Negrón-Mendoza; Sergio Ramos-Bernal. Behavior of Poly-A onto Kaolin. J. Nucl. Phy. Mat. Sci. Rad. A. 2020, 7, 139-143.

 

Stability of Pyruvic Acid Adsorbed Onto Clays and Exposed to Ionizing Radiation: Relevance in Chemical Evolution

 

• R. C Acosta-Fernández
  Institute of Nuclear Sciences (ICN), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM); Faculty of Chemistry, UNAM
• A. Heredia-Barbero
  Institute of Nuclear Sciences (ICN), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)
• A. Negrón-Mendoza
  Institute of Nuclear Sciences (ICN), National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15415/jnp.2020.72011

Keywords: Chemical evolution, Pyruvic acid, Clays, Gamma radiation

Abstract

Chemical evolution studies focus on the synthesis and stability of organic molecules during various transformative physicochemical processes. Gaining insight into the possible mechanisms behind these processes requires the use of various energy sources and catalysts that can produce such transformations. In this work, ionizing radiation (⁶⁰Co) was used as a source of energy, and two clays with different exchangeable cations-sodium and iron (III)-were combined with pyruvic acid, a key alpha keto acid in metabolism. The samples of pyruvic acid were prepared at a concentration of 0.01 M; then, adsorption experiments were carried out by combining sodium or iron montmorillonite at different times. The amount that adsorbed onto iron montmorillonite was greater than the amount that adsorbed onto sodium montmorillonite. Samples of alpha keto acid at the same concentration were irradiated-in the absence of clay-at 0 to 146.1 kGy and at two pHs (6.7 and 2.0). The suspended samples with sodium and iron clay were then irradiated at the same doses. The results show that keto acid decomposes more quickly at more acidic pHs. The main reaction to irradiation without clay involves the dimerization of pyruvic acid, and 2,3-dimethyltartaric acid is the majority product. When irradiated in the presence of clay, the main reaction is decarboxylation, and acetic acid is the majority product. The exchangeable cation type modifies the interactions between the organic molecule and the solid phase. The percentage of recovered pyruvic acid is higher for iron montmorillonite than for sodium montmorillonite.

 

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J. Ramírez-Carreón, S. Ramos-Bernal, and A. Negrón-Mendoza, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 318, 2435 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-6264-8

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Issue

Vol 7 No 2 (2020): Special Issue 

 

 

How to Cite

R. C Acosta-Fernández; A. Heredia-Barbero; A. Negrón-Mendoza. Stability of Pyruvic Acid Adsorbed Onto Clays and Exposed to Ionizing Radiation: Relevance in Chemical Evolution. J. Nucl. Phy. Mat. Sci. Rad. A. 2020, 7, 97-101.

 

Radiolysis of Nucleosides: Study of Sedimentary Microenvironment Models for the Protection of Bio-Organic Molecules on Early Earth

E Y AGUILAR-OVANDO1,2* AND A NEGRÓN-MENDOZA1

1 Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares (ICN), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

2 Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM)

*Email: ellen.aguilar@nucleares.unam.mx

Abstract Nucleic acid bases and their derivatives are important compounds in biological systems. Many efforts have been made to demonstrate the possible prebiotic origin of these molecules, but the abiotic synthesis of these compounds has proved to be very difficult in that conditions. So, if their synthesis actually took place, a study of their stability in prebiotic conditions is quite relevant in chemical evolution studies. In this work, it has been examined and compared the influence of Sodium Montmorillonite on the chemical transformations undergone by two nucleosides (guanosine – purinic– and uridine, –pyrimidinic–) when subjected to conditions simulating the primitive Earth during the period of chemical evolution. The experiments prove the concentration capacity and protective role against external sources of ionizing radiation (specifically γ-ray) that clays can provide to these specific compounds adsorbed on them. By using X-ray diffraction, UVvis spectrophotometry and HPLC for the analysis, it was found that purinic nucleosides (more than pyrimidinic) are quickly adsorbed on clay at low pH values, and the temperature of mineral desiccation applied after adsorption promotes their decomposition into their corresponding nitrogenous bases. In both, purinic and pyrimidinic, desorption occurs in neutral or slightly basic aqueous solutions, and both are protected by clay. Pyrimidinic nucleosides show more resistance to heat, but less resistance towards ionizing radiation, even when adsorbed in clay.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15415/jnp.2017.51010

LINK: http://dspace.chitkara.edu.in/jspui/bitstream/1/870/1/51010_JNP_Aguilar%20-%20Negron.pdf