Iron sulfide-catalyzed gaseous CO2 reduction and prebiotic carbon fixation in terrestrial hot springs

Abstract Understanding abiotic carbon fixation provides insights into early Earth’s carbon cycles and life’s emergence in terrestrial hot springs, where iron sulfide (FeS), similar to cofactors in metabolic enzymes, may catalyze prebiotic synthesis. However, the role of FeS-mediated carbon fixation...

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Main Authors: Jingbo Nan, Shunqin Luo, Quoc Phuong Tran, Albert C. Fahrenbach, Wen-Ning Lu, Yingjie Hu, Zongjun Yin, Jinhua Ye, Martin J. Van Kranendonk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54062-y
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author Jingbo Nan
Shunqin Luo
Quoc Phuong Tran
Albert C. Fahrenbach
Wen-Ning Lu
Yingjie Hu
Zongjun Yin
Jinhua Ye
Martin J. Van Kranendonk
author_facet Jingbo Nan
Shunqin Luo
Quoc Phuong Tran
Albert C. Fahrenbach
Wen-Ning Lu
Yingjie Hu
Zongjun Yin
Jinhua Ye
Martin J. Van Kranendonk
author_sort Jingbo Nan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Understanding abiotic carbon fixation provides insights into early Earth’s carbon cycles and life’s emergence in terrestrial hot springs, where iron sulfide (FeS), similar to cofactors in metabolic enzymes, may catalyze prebiotic synthesis. However, the role of FeS-mediated carbon fixation in such conditions remains underexplored. Here, we investigate the catalytic behaviors of FeS (pure and doped with Ti, Ni, Mn, and Co), which are capable of H2-driven CO2 reduction to methanol under simulated hot spring vapor-zone conditions, using an anaerobic flow chamber connected to a gas chromatograph. Specifically, Mn-doped FeS increases methanol production five-fold at 120 °C, with UV−visible light (300–720 nm) and UV-enhanced light (200–600 nm) further increasing this activity. Operando and theoretical investigations indicate the mechanism involves a reverse water-gas shift with CO as an intermediate. These findings highlight the potential of FeS-catalyzed carbon fixation in early Earth’s terrestrial hot springs, effective with or without UV light.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
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publishDate 2024-11-01
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series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-dc486b681ba74923a3e6d0785cfc9d2d2024-12-08T12:36:41ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-11-0115111010.1038/s41467-024-54062-yIron sulfide-catalyzed gaseous CO2 reduction and prebiotic carbon fixation in terrestrial hot springsJingbo Nan0Shunqin Luo1Quoc Phuong Tran2Albert C. Fahrenbach3Wen-Ning Lu4Yingjie Hu5Zongjun Yin6Jinhua Ye7Martin J. Van Kranendonk8State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesInternational Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)School of Chemistry, University of New South WalesSchool of Chemistry, University of New South WalesInternational Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)Nanjing Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials, Nanjing Xiaozhuang UniversityState Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesInternational Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA), National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS)Australian Centre for Astrobiology, University of New South WalesAbstract Understanding abiotic carbon fixation provides insights into early Earth’s carbon cycles and life’s emergence in terrestrial hot springs, where iron sulfide (FeS), similar to cofactors in metabolic enzymes, may catalyze prebiotic synthesis. However, the role of FeS-mediated carbon fixation in such conditions remains underexplored. Here, we investigate the catalytic behaviors of FeS (pure and doped with Ti, Ni, Mn, and Co), which are capable of H2-driven CO2 reduction to methanol under simulated hot spring vapor-zone conditions, using an anaerobic flow chamber connected to a gas chromatograph. Specifically, Mn-doped FeS increases methanol production five-fold at 120 °C, with UV−visible light (300–720 nm) and UV-enhanced light (200–600 nm) further increasing this activity. Operando and theoretical investigations indicate the mechanism involves a reverse water-gas shift with CO as an intermediate. These findings highlight the potential of FeS-catalyzed carbon fixation in early Earth’s terrestrial hot springs, effective with or without UV light.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54062-y
spellingShingle Jingbo Nan
Shunqin Luo
Quoc Phuong Tran
Albert C. Fahrenbach
Wen-Ning Lu
Yingjie Hu
Zongjun Yin
Jinhua Ye
Martin J. Van Kranendonk
Iron sulfide-catalyzed gaseous CO2 reduction and prebiotic carbon fixation in terrestrial hot springs
Nature Communications
title Iron sulfide-catalyzed gaseous CO2 reduction and prebiotic carbon fixation in terrestrial hot springs
title_full Iron sulfide-catalyzed gaseous CO2 reduction and prebiotic carbon fixation in terrestrial hot springs
title_fullStr Iron sulfide-catalyzed gaseous CO2 reduction and prebiotic carbon fixation in terrestrial hot springs
title_full_unstemmed Iron sulfide-catalyzed gaseous CO2 reduction and prebiotic carbon fixation in terrestrial hot springs
title_short Iron sulfide-catalyzed gaseous CO2 reduction and prebiotic carbon fixation in terrestrial hot springs
title_sort iron sulfide catalyzed gaseous co2 reduction and prebiotic carbon fixation in terrestrial hot springs
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54062-y
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