Ultraviolet-Photoproduced Organic Solids Synthesized Under Simulated Jovian Conditions: Molecular Analysis
B. N. KHARE 1,
CARL SAGAN 1,
ERIC L. BANDURSKI 2, and
BARTHOLOMEW NAGY 2
1 Laboratory for Planetary Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
2 Laboratoy of Organic Geochemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721
In an earlier paper, Khare and Sagan reported the production of a brownish polymeric material from the near-ultraviolet irradiation of simulated jovian atmospheres with a low hydrogen abundance. Examination of this product indicates that hydrogen sulfide is the initial photon acceptor; the powder resulting after extraction with benzene is 84 percent sulfur, largely S8. In results reported here, the remaining 16 percent was pyrolyzed and then examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pyrolysis at 450°C yielded a series of alkanes, alkenes, C3-alkylbenzenes, aromatics, thiophenes, alkylthiophenes, alkylmercaptans, alkyldisulfides, together with the nitrogenous compounds hydrogen cyanide, methyl cyanide, alkylisothiocyanates, acrylonitrile, and allylisothiocyanates. Some of these compounds might be sought on Jupiter and Saturn and their satellites by remote infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy and directly by entry probes.
Submitted on April 5, 1977
Revised on November 21, 1977
