Phase separation, brine formation, and salinity variation at Black Smoker hydrothermal systems

The Nakhlite Hydrothermal Brine

Introduction: Mineralogical studies have demonstrated that the nakhlite SNC meteorites have preserved the effects of water-rock interaction between a hydrothermal brine and the nakhlite parent rocks on Mars. Brittle fracturing and corrosion of olivine grains and mesostasis associated with the hydrothermal event have left veins of zoned Fe-carbonate, Fe-smectite (with minor serpentine), and an a...

The Sound Generated by Mid-Ocean Ridge Black Smoker Hydrothermal Vents

Hydrothermal flow through seafloor black smoker vents is typically turbulent and vigorous, with speeds often exceeding 1 m/s. Although theory predicts that these flows will generate sound, the prevailing view has been that black smokers are essentially silent. Here we present the first unambiguous field recordings showing that these vents radiate significant acoustic energy. The sounds contain ...

Mars Brine Formation Experiment

Rapid One-Step Separation and Purification of Recombinant Phenylalanine Dehydrogenase in Aqueous Two-Phase Systems

Background: Phenylalanine dehydrogenase (PheDH EC 1.4.1.20) is a NAD+-dependent enzyme that performs the reversible oxidative deamination of L-phenylalanine to phenylpyruvate. It plays an important role in detection and screening of phenylketonuria (PKU) diseases and production of chiral intermediates as well. The main goal of this study was to find a simple and rapid alternative method for pur...

Phase separation in confined systems

We review the current state of knowledge of phase separation and phase equilibria in porous materials. Our emphasis is on fundamental studies of simple fluids (composed of small, neutral molecules) and well-characterized materials. While theoretical and molecular simulation studies are stressed, we also survey experimental investigations that are fundamental in nature. Following a brief survey ...