Organic compounds in lunar samples: pyrolysis products, hydrocarbons, amino acids.
Lunar fines and a chip from inside a rock pyrolyzed in helium at 700 degrees C gave methane, other gases, and aromatic hydrocarbons. Benzene/methanol extracts of fines yielded traces of high molecular weight alkanes and sulfur. Traces of glycine, alanine, ethanolamine, and urea were found in aqueous extracts. Biological controls and a terrestrial rock, dunite, subjected to exhaust from the lunar module descent engine showed a different amino acid distribution. Interpretation of the origin of the carbon compounds requires extreme care, because of possible contamination acquired during initial sample processing.
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D055580:Astronomical Phenomena; D001256:Astronomy; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D055593:Geological Phenomena; D005844:Geology; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013026:Space Flight
D000596:Amino Acids; D006838:Hydrocarbons