Surface charge minerals

Pyrite is not only one of the key compounds in Wachtershauser s theory, but could also have fulfilled an important function for phosphate chemistry in prebiotic syntheses. A group in Rio de Janeiro studied the conditions for phosphate sorption and desorption under conditions which may have been present in the primeval ocean. In particular, the question arises as to the enrichment of free, soluble inorganic phosphate (Pi), which was probably present in low concentrations similar to those of today (10 7-10 8M) (Miller and Keffe, 1995). Experiments show that acid conditions favour sorption at FeS2, while a weakly alkaline milieu works in an opposite manner. Sorption of Pi can be favoured by various factors, such as hydrophobic coating of pyrite with molecules such as acetate, which could have been formed in the vicinity of hydrothermal systems, or the neutralisation of mineral surface charges by Na+ and K+. 

Figure 2.12 Density of mineral surface charge vs. solution water pH values (White, 1997).

If the surfactant is anionic (negative ion) and if S is a mineral surface charged negatively, the two will repel each other and the surfactant cannot attach itself to 5. As a result, the energy sw remains unchanged and the surfactant acts on the surface tension 7 only. 

Figure 18-82 illustrates the relationship between solids concentration, iuterparticle cohesiveuess, and the type of sedimentation that may exist. Totally discrete particles include many mineral particles (usually greater in diameter than 20 Im), salt crystals, and similar substances that have httle tendency to cohere. Floccnleut particles generally will include those smaller than 20 [Lm (unless present in a dispersed state owing to surface charges), metal hydroxides, many chemical precipitates, and most organic substances other than true colloids. 

The great importance of minerals in prebiotic chemical reactions is undisputed. Interactions between mineral surfaces and organic molecules, and their influence on self-organisation processes, have been the subject of much study. New results from Szostak and co-workers show that the formation of vesicles is not limited to one type of mineral, but can involve various types of surfaces. Different minerals were studied in order to find out how particle size, particle shape, composition and charge can influence vesicle formation. Thus, for example, montmorillonite (Na and K10), kaolinite, talc, aluminium silicates, quartz, perlite, pyrite, hydrotalcite and Teflon particles were studied. Vesicle formation was catalysed best by aluminium solicate, followed by hydrotalcite, kaolinite and talcum (Hanczyc et al., 2007). 

Clay minerals or phyllosilicates are lamellar natural and synthetic materials with high surface area, cation exchange and swelling properties, exfoliation ability, variable surface charge density and hydrophobic/hydrophilic character [85], They are good host structures for intercalation or adsorption of organic molecules and macromolecules, particularly proteins. On the basis of the natural adsorption of proteins by clay minerals and various clay complexes that occurs in soils, many authors have investigated the use of clay and clay-derived materials as matrices for the immobilization of enzymes, either for environmental chemistry purpose or in the chemical and material industries. 

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