Methylated silicates may explain the release of chlorinated methane from Martian soil

TY - JOUR

T1 - Methylated silicates may explain the release of chlorinated methane from Martian soil

AU - Bak, Ebbe Norskov

AU - Jensen, Svend Knak

AU - Nørnberg, Per

AU - Finster, Kai

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - The only organic compounds that have been detected in the Martian soil are simple chlorinated compounds released from heated surface material. However, the sources of the organic carbon are in dispute. Wind abraded silicates, which are widespread on the Martian surface, can sequester atmospheric methane which generates methylated silicates and thus could provide a mechanism for accumulation of reduced carbon in the surface soil. In this study we show that thermal volatilization of methylated silicates in the presence of perchlorate leads to the production of chlorinated methane. Thus, methylated silicates could be a source of the organic carbon released as chlorinated methane upon thermal volatilization of Martian soil samples. Further, our experiments show that the ratio of the different chlorinated compounds produced is dependent on the mass ratio of perchlorate to organic carbon in the soil.

AB - The only organic compounds that have been detected in the Martian soil are simple chlorinated compounds released from heated surface material. However, the sources of the organic carbon are in dispute. Wind abraded silicates, which are widespread on the Martian surface, can sequester atmospheric methane which generates methylated silicates and thus could provide a mechanism for accumulation of reduced carbon in the surface soil. In this study we show that thermal volatilization of methylated silicates in the presence of perchlorate leads to the production of chlorinated methane. Thus, methylated silicates could be a source of the organic carbon released as chlorinated methane upon thermal volatilization of Martian soil samples. Further, our experiments show that the ratio of the different chlorinated compounds produced is dependent on the mass ratio of perchlorate to organic carbon in the soil.

KW - Abrasion

KW - Hydrocarbons

KW - Mars

KW - Organics

KW - Perchlorate

KW - Planetary science

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84954108565&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.epsl.2015.10.044

DO - 10.1016/j.epsl.2015.10.044

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0012-821X

VL - 433

SP - 226

EP - 231

JO - Earth and Planetary Science Letters

JF - Earth and Planetary Science Letters

ER -