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Project Progress

The Strongin group is continuing to study the reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia driven by the conversion of pyrrothite to pyrite (FeS + H₂S → FeS₂ + 2H⁺ + 2e^-). In addition the group has initiated parallel studies that are investigating the conversion of nitrate and nitrite to ammonia. The experiments are utilizing a transmission infrared cell containing an aqueous suspension of nanocrystalline FeS, sulfide species, and dissolved nitrogen at 120°C and 100 bar N₂ pressure. Vibrational spectroscopy has suggested that ammonia is being formed under these conditions and the details of the data are being currently analyzed so as to understand the mechanistic steps that contribute to this reaction chemistry. FeS surfaces modified by exposure to an energetic hydrogen beam by the Minton group will also be studied in the near future. These modified surfaces contain a more reduced form of iron (than in FeS) that may enhance ammonia formation under hydrothermal conditions.

The spectroscopic studies are complemented by batch experiments carried out at Stony Brook in Schoonen’s group. The batch experiments are designed to derive kinetic data and activation energies. Experiments with nitrate and freshly precipitated FeS—precipitated from FeSO₄ or FeCl₂ salts—do not show any formation of ammonia, consistent with the spectroscopic studies. Work with nitrite, which is more reactive is underway. In addition to the experimental work on reactions with FeS, Post Doctoral researcher Alex Smirnov is collaborating with a post-doctoral researcher at Carnegie to study the occurrence of nitride phases in several iron meteorites. The objective is to determine their concentration and rate of leaching from meteorites so an estimate can be made of exogenous addition of reduced nitrogen to the Hadean Earth.