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Microfluidic Production of Pyrophosphate Catalyzed by Mineral Membranes with Steep pH Gradients
Author(s) -
Wang Qingpu,
Barge Laura M.,
Steinbock Oliver
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemistry – a european journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.687
H-Index - 242
eISSN - 1521-3765
pISSN - 0947-6539
DOI - 10.1002/chem.201805950
Subject(s) - pyrophosphate , chemistry , membrane , inorganic chemistry , goethite , aqueous solution , biochemistry , organic chemistry , adsorption , enzyme
Pyrophosphate might have functioned as an energy storage/currency molecule on early Earth, essential for the emergence of life. Here we synthesized mineral membranes involving iron(II), iron(III), and other divalent metal cations (calcium, manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc, and nickel) and tested their ability to catalyze the formation of pyrophosphate from phosphate and acetyl phosphate across steep pH gradients in microfluidic devices. We studied the chemical compositions of the precipitate membranes (which included vivianite, goethite, and green rust) using in situ and ex situ micro‐Raman spectroscopy. The yields of pyrophosphate were determined by aqueous 31 P NMR spectroscopy. We found that Fe 2+ and Ca 2+ were the best catalysts for pyrophosphate synthesis among investigated ions; Fe 3+ and mixed‐valence iron membranes were also able to promote pyrophosphate formation. In addition, the pH gradients across the membranes affected the pyrophosphate yields and the smallest pH gradient resulted in the highest yield. These results suggest a possible route of substrate phosphorylation in prebiotic hydrothermal systems.