STUDIES ON PROTEIN-LIKE PRODUCTS FROM RADIOFREQUENCY PLASMAS OF CO, N2, AND H2,
Abstract
Solid protein-like products have been produced from 'cold' plasmas of the inorganic gases CO, N2, and H2 reacting under specific discharge conditions. The excitation of gases under electrodeless radiofrequency (13.56 MHz) conditions produced polymers whose chemical composition was tailorable as a function of gas flow rates. The polymers on hydrolysis showed the presence of alanine, glutamic acid, glycine, serine, and tyrosine as the most common hydrolysate amino acids. Many other compounds of unknown structure are shown to be separable by two dimensional paper chromatography. These compounds can be quite complex, and may be polymeric, or heterocyclic in nature. Possible reaction mechanisms leading to the synthesis of the glycyl unit are proposed, and the role of surfaces or other nucleation sites for condensation of products is discussed. A model is presented whereby reactions between CO, N2, and H2 induced in primordial times by ultraviolet energy could have lead to condensation of organic products on upper atmospheric dust particles. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0689035
Entities
People
- Carl Emanuel
- John R. Hollahan
Organizations
- Boeing