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Isotopic Measurements of Organic Sulfonates From The Murchison MeteoriteOrganic sulfonates and phosphonates have been extracted from the Murchison meteorite for stable isotope measurements. Preliminary stable isotope measurements of individual alkyl sulfonates, R-SO3H (R=C(sub n)H(sub 2n+l)), are shown. These compounds were found in aqueous extracts of Murchison. Both groups show trends similar to other homologous series of organic compounds indigenous to Murchison. Molecular abundances decrease with increasing carbon number, and all possible isomers at each carbon number (through C-4) are present. Carbon isotope measurements of the sulfonates show a decrease in the C-13/C-12 ratio with increasing carbon number. The overall objectives of this project are to obtain dime element carbon, hydrogen, and sulfur - intramolecular isotopic analyses of individual sulfonates, and isotopic measurement of carbon and hydrogen of the phosphonates as a group. The Murchison meteorite is the best characterized carbonaceous chondrite with respect to organic chemistry. The finding of organic sulfonates and phosphonates in Murchison is of interest because they are the first well-characterized series of sulfur and phosphorus containing organic compounds found in meteorites. Also, meteorites, comets, and interplanetary dust particles may have been involved in chemical evolution on the early Earth. Because of the critical role of organic phosphorus and sulfur in all living systems, it is particularly interesting to see examples of abiotic syntheses of these classes of compounds. The study of the isotopic composition of the sulfonates and phosphonates can yield insight into their possible interstellar origin as well as their mechanisms of synthesis in the early solar system. Previous isotopic analyses of other classes of organic compounds indigenous to meteorites, e.g., amino acids, carboxylic acids, and hydrocarbons indicate the possibility that interstellar molecules were incorporated into meteorite parent bodies. In these compounds the ratios of heavy to light isotopes of hydrogen (D/H), carbon (C-13/C-12), and nitrogen (N-15/N-14), are anomalous relative to bulk terrestrial and meteoritic values. In some cases, the D/H ratios approach those observed for molecules in interstellar clouds.
Document ID
20020016492
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Cooper, G. W.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Chang, S.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
DeVincenzi, Donald L.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1995
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: 25th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
Location: Houston, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: March 13, 1995
End Date: March 17, 1995
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 152-13-60
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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