The Research Of Hydrothermal Synthesis From C1Compounds To Multi-Carbon Organic Carboxylic Acid Molecules

The study of origin of life has always been thought to be one of three toughscientific questions, and it is significant for modern medical and life science. Thequestions how life originated, it happened occasionally or not, confused scientistsall the time. So far, some evidences like fossil has been found provide importantinformation to life science researchers. Thus we can assume rationally possibilitiesaccording to these reliable evidences, even though the primitive earth emerged4.6billion years ago.German chemist W chtersh user and Swiss geochemist Russell came up with atheory that life originated from submarine hot springs. The volcano vents at thebottom of the ocean might bring about life. There were abundant metal minerals,salts and sulfide compounds where temperature was near400℃, pH=2-3,sometimes archeobacteria happened to be alive. We would simulate this kind ofcondition to explore how life originated.In the second chapter, we prepared and characterized a series of nano-metalcatalysts. We enhanced the catalytic capabilities of these catalysts, like loaded onmontmorillonite or coated by SiO₂to reduce the aggregation and increase thecontact area between catalysts and reactants. The bi-metal catalysts with differentratios were prepared as well. All the catalysts were designed to improve thecatalysis efficiency.In the third chapter, we use kinds of nano-metals which prepared in the secondchapter as catalysts, in the reaction systems of CO₂、formic acid/CO₂and acetateacid, respectively, under300℃,300psi conditions and reacting for24hours. Weconclude that1)these catalysts can not activate CO₂when CO₂is the only reactant,2) NanoFe/FeS、Fe/FeS@Mont. Fe/FeS@SiO₂can catalyze the reaction system of formic acid to produce acetate acid, propionic acid and butyric acid.3)When CO₂reacts with acetate acid, we can get propionic acid using Fe@Mont. and Fe@SiO₂as catalysts.Above all, by using a series of catalysts, we could fix CO₂to produce organicsubstances which are more than one or two carbon atoms. It is rare to get C3-C4like organic acids synthesized in origin of life research. This work may contribute tothe research of synthesis multi-carbon organic molecules for the mystery of lifeoriginated.