Gamma irradiation of adenine and guanine adsorbed into hectorite and attapulgite

Abstract

This study focuses on the radiolysis (up to 36 kGy) of guanine and adenine (nitrogenous bases) adsorbed in hectorite and attapulgite to highlight the potential role of clays as protective agents against ionizing radiation in prebiotic processes. In this framework, the study investigated the nitrogenous bases’ behavior in two types of systems: a) aqueous suspension of adenine–clay systems and b) guanine–clay systems in the solid state. This research utilized spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques for its analytical purposes. Regardless of the reaction medium conditions, the results reveal that nitrogenous bases are stable under ionizing irradiation when adsorbed on both clays.

Keywords

• Nitrogenous bases
• Clays
• Adsorption–desorption processes
• Gamma irradiation
• Chemical evolution