title: Surface interaction of L-alanine on hematite: an astrobiological implication.
abstract: In the present work, surface interaction of L-alanine (L-ala) has been investigated on hematite (α-Fe2O3), an abundant mineral on Mars, as a function of time (5 min-48 h), pH (4.0 and 6.20 ± 0.10) and concentration (1 × 10(-3) M-10 × 10(-3) M) with optical absorbance and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Adsorption parameters (XM and KL) were calculated from Langmuir adsorption isotherms. L-alanine has maximum affinity (65.31 %) in its zwitterionic form at pH 6.20, while it is only 29.86 % adsorbed at pH 4.0. Possible astrobiological implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, DSB Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, 263002, Uttarakhand, India, pp.chem24@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Pramod
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Chandra Kala
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Pant
authors.forename: Kavita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gururani
authors.forename: Priyanka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Yogesh
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Hari Datt
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.forename: Mohan Singh
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mehata
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000409:Alanine / Q000737:chemistry*; D019418:Evolution, Chemical; D018559:Exobiology; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D008903:Minerals; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C000499:ferric oxide; D000409:Alanine