Photoassisted carbon dioxide reduction and formation of twoand three-carbon compoundsThe photoassisted reduction of aqueous carbon dioxide in the presence of naturally occurring minerals is investigated as a possible abiotic precursor of photosynthesis. Aqueous carbon dioxide saturated suspensions or surfaces of the minerals nontronite, bentonite, anatase, wolframite, molybdenite, minium, cinnabar and hematite were irradiated with high-pressure mercury lamps or sunlight. Chemical analyses reveal the production of formic acid, formaldehyde, methanol and methane, and the two and three-carbon compounds glyoxal (CHOCHO) and malonaldehyde (CH2(CHO)2). It is suggested that such photosynthetic reactions with visible light in the presence of semiconducting minerals may provide models for prebiological carbon and nitrogen fixation in both oxidized and reduced atmospheres.
Document ID
19820037385
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Halmann, M. (Weizmann Inst. of Science Rehovot, Israel)
Aurian-Blajeni, B. (Weizmann Institute of Science Rehovot, Israel)
Bloch, S. (Paris XII, Universite Creteil, Val-de-Marne, France)