Adsorption of Adenine and Thymine on Zeolites: FT-IR and EPR Spectroscopy and X-Ray Diffractometry and SEM Studies

• DOI: 10.1007/s11084-011-9246-1
• Publication Date: 2011-10-19T07:59:51Z
• Authors: João Paulo T. Baú; Cristine E. A. Ca...; Ivan G. de Souza ...; Cláudio M. D. de ...; Antonio C. S. da ...; Eduardo di Mauro; Cássia T. B. V. Zaia; Joaquin Coronas; Clara Casado; Henrique de Santana; Dimas A. M. Zaia
• Keywords: Thymine

The interactions of adenine and thymine with and adsorption on zeolites were studied using different techniques. There were two main findings. First, as shown by X-ray diffractometry, thymine increased the decomposition of the zeolites (Y, ZSM-5) while adenine prevented it. Second, zeolite Y adsorbed almost the same amount of adenine and thymine, thus both nucleic acid bases could be protected from hydrolysis and UV radiation and could be available for molecular evolution. The X-ray diffractometry and SEM showed that artificial seawater almost dissolved zeolite A. The adsorption of adenine on ZSM-5 zeolite was higher than that of thymine (Student-Newman-Keuls test-SNK p<0.05). Adenine was also more greatly adsorbed on ZSM-5 zeolite, when compared to other zeolites (SNK p<0.05). However the adsorption of thymine on different zeolites was not statistically different (SNK p>0.05). The adsorption of adenine and thymine on zeolites did not depend on pore size or Si/Al ratio and it was not explained only by electrostatic forces; rather van der Waals interactions should also be considered.