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Lanthanide Complexes as a Test for Evidence of LifeThe objective of this research is to advance the understanding of the interaction of lanthanide metals with biological organic molecules and to develop a technique to detect these compounds in the solid state and in situ in Mars and other planetary bodies. The detection of these complexes should provide evidence of life past or present. In addition, detection of the metals alone will provide important information about the geological history of a planetary body. Lanthanides were chosen as our focus of interest because they form very stable complexes with organic molecules in solution and they produce intense luminescence in the ultraviolet and visible spectra. The rare earth complexes available are mostly synthetic for diverse applications in medicine. There is not much work done on the complexes that form in nature. Lanthanides have many applications and they are mined aR over the world, however, since the interest has been only in the elements, the analytical techniques employed destroy any organic ligands that may be present. In order to determine if and which lanthanide complexes form in nature and their concentration, soil samples have been collected from areas rich in soluble lanthanide compounds like phosphates and also rich in vegetation. The soil samples will be analyzed and the lanthanide complexes if present will be isolated and characterized. A spectrometer to detect the lanthanide complexes in situ and in the solid state will be designed. In this workshop, the research approach and its implications will be discussed.
Document ID
19990097047
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Benavides, Jeannette
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1998
Subject Category
Space Biology
Meeting Information
Meeting: Space Geophysics
Location: San Jose
Country: Costa Rica
Start Date: November 3, 1998
End Date: November 7, 1998
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: DDF-562274010101
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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