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

Patrick J. Liesch; Vera M. Kolb

doi:10.1117/12.731345

1 October 2007 Importance of the interaction between sodium silicate and organic materials to astrobiology: alcohol-based organo-silicates as potential biosignatures

Patrick J. Liesch, Vera M. Kolb

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6694, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology X; 669405 (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.731345
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2007, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

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.

Citation Download Citation

Patrick J. Liesch and Vera M. Kolb "Importance of the interaction between sodium silicate and organic materials to astrobiology: alcohol-based organo-silicates as potential biosignatures", Proc. SPIE 6694, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology X, 669405 (1 October 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.731345

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