Posted: Mar 15, 2010 12:00 pm
rainbow wrote:Rumraket wrote:No objection. This does introduce another problem, and a very big one. If the concentration effect is non-selective, then it will result in accumulation of all the other molecules in the hydrothermal system.
If we go back to paper 1, then we shall see that hydrocarbons are produced in greater quantities than are fatty acids. If these are accumulated as well then they would interfere with micelle formation.
This seems more like an assertion than an experimentally derived fact. I'm not rejecting it out of hand, i'm just saying it remains to be seen.
It is a rather well known reaction, and one that you probably use every day!
The fatty acids are the basis of common soaps, they are in fact the sodium or potassium salts of these acids. If you were to get a mineral oil (long chain hydrocarbon) on your hands, you'd most likely use soap to remove it.
I'm not disputing this.
What remains to be proved is that the flow of monomer hydrocarbons(CO2, CH4 and others) in hydrothermal vents accumulate and prevent the formation of micelles and vesicles from longer-chain fatty acids, under the actual circumstances. This has not been experimentally verified to my knowledge. Additionally, even if the presence of CO2 and/or CH4 has inhibiting effects on the formation of micelles and vesicles, can local mineral selectivity such as that provided by montmorillonite overcome this deficiency?