Abnormal Glow Discharge in CH4-N2 Gas Mixture - Study of Mimic of Titan's Atmosphere

Abnormal Glow Discharge in CH4-N2 Gas Mixture - Study of Mimic of Titan's Atmosphere

Abstract

The complex chemistry revealed in planetary atmospheres leading to the synthesis of bigger molecules is providing new insights into our understanding of how life on Earth developed. In our experiments Titan's atmosphere is simulated in a glow-discharge formed from a mixture of CH4-N2 gas. Samples of the discharge gas were analyzed by GC-MS and FTIR. The major products identified in the GC-MS spectra were: ethane, ethene, acetylene, hydrogen cyanide and acetonitrile. These molecules can be precursors for other more complicated molecular structures, even some amino acids.

The complex chemistry revealed in planetary atmospheres leading to the synthesis of bigger molecules is providing new insights into our understanding of how life on Earth developed. In our experiments Titan's atmosphere is simulated in a glow-discharge formed from a mixture of CH4-N2 gas. Samples of the discharge gas were analyzed by GC-MS and FTIR. The major products identified in the GC-MS spectra were: ethane, ethene, acetylene, hydrogen cyanide and acetonitrile. These molecules can be precursors for other more complicated molecular structures, even some amino acids.

Titan atmosphere, gliding arc, nitrogen-methane mixture, GC-MS, FTIR

Titan atmosphere, gliding arc, nitrogen-methane mixture, GC-MS, FTIR

TÖRÖKOVÁ, L.; HORVÁTH, G.; WATSON, J.; MASON, N.J.; KRČMA, F.; ZAHORAM, M., MATEJČÍK, Š.

2013

11.10.2011

La Valetta

CM0805 Second Annual Meeting of The Chemical Cosmoc - Book of Abstracts

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