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Chemical evolution studies: the radiolysis and thermal decomposition of malonic acid

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Abstract

In the context of chemical evolution a simulation of a hydrothermal vent was performed. The thermolysis and radiolysis of malonic acid in aqueous solution were studied. The thermolysis was done by heating the samples (95 °C) and radiolysis using gamma radiation. Products were identified by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The thermal treatment produced acetic acid and CO2. The radiolysis experiments yield carbon dioxide, acetic acid, and di- and tricarboxylic acids. A theoretical model of the chemical process occurring under irradiation was developed; this was able to reproduce formation of products and the consumption of malonic acid.

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Acknowledgments

PAPIIT Grant No. IN110712 and CONACYT Grant No. 168579 supported this work. JCC was supported by a CONACyT fellowship. The support of the “Posgrado en Ciencias Químicas” through the invitation to Prof. D. Frías is acknowledged. We also thank C. Camargo, B. Leal and F. Flores for their technical support. We thank to the reviewers for their very useful comments and suggestions to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, D.F, A.P. 70-543, Mexico, DF, Mexico

    J. Cruz-Castañeda, A. Negrón-Mendoza, A. Heredia, S. Ramos-Bernal & S. Villafañe-Barajas

  2. Departamento de Ciencias Exatas e Tecnologicas, Universidade do Estado da Bahia, Salvador, Brazil

    D. Frías

  3. Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, C.P. 04510, Mexico, DF, Mexico

    M. Colín-García

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  1. J. Cruz-Castañeda
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  2. A. Negrón-Mendoza
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  3. D. Frías
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  4. M. Colín-García
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  5. A. Heredia
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  6. S. Ramos-Bernal
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  7. S. Villafañe-Barajas
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Correspondence to A. Negrón-Mendoza.

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Cruz-Castañeda, J., Negrón-Mendoza, A., Frías, D. et al. Chemical evolution studies: the radiolysis and thermal decomposition of malonic acid. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 304, 219–225 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3711-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-014-3711-z

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