The origin of methane and biomolecules from a CO2 cycle on terrestrial planets

0478910 - ÚFCH JH 2018 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Civiš, Svatopluk - Knížek, Antonín - Ivanek, Ondřej - Kubelík, Petr - Zukalová, Markéta - Kavan, Ladislav - Ferus, Martin
The origin of methane and biomolecules from a CO2 cycle on terrestrial planets.
Nature Astronomy. Roč. 1, č. 10 (2017), s. 721-726. ISSN 2397-3366. E-ISSN 2397-3366
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA17-05076S; GA ČR GA13-07724S
Grant - others:Akademie věd - GA AV ČR(CZ) R200401721; Akademie věd - GA AV ČR(CZ) R200401521
Institutional support: RVO:61388955
Keywords : biomolecules * CO2 cycle on terrestrial planets * Mars
OECD category: Physical chemistry
Method of publishing: Limited access

Understanding the chemical evolution of newly formed terrestrial planets involves uncertainties in atmospheric chemical composition and assessing the plausibility of biomolecule synthesis. In this study, an original scenario for the origin of methane on Mars and terrestrial planets is suggested. Carbon dioxide in Martian and other planetary atmospheres can be abiotically converted into a mixture of methane and carbon monoxide by ‘methanogenesis’ on porous mineral photoactive surfaces under soft ultraviolet irradiation. On young planets exposed to heavy bombardment by interplanetary matter, this process can be followed by biomolecule synthesis through the reprocessing of reactive reducing atmospheres by impact-induced shock waves. The proposed mechanism of methanogenesis may help to answer the question concerning the formation of methane and carbon monoxide by photochemical processes, the formation of biomolecules on early Earth and other terrestrial planets, and the source and seasonal variation of methane concentrations on Mars.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0274956