Hydrophobe, Clathrasil and

Lava Lamp

Methane hydrate

Structure I binary hydrate:

46H2O · 6(mG) · 2(sG)

sG – small-size gas, such as N2

mG – medium-size gas, such as CH4

Clathrasil (mineral) at work

46 SiO2·6(lG)·2(sG)

sG: N2, Ar, Xe, CH4

lG: N2O, CO2, Kr, Xe, CH3NH2 (methylamine)

Frame density = 1.79 g/cm3

Photosynthesis and respiration:

CO2 + H2O CH2O + O2 ; 2CH2O CO2 + CH4

Sulfate reduction (Methanotrophy):

CH4 + SO42- HS- + HCO3

- + H2O H2S + CO32- + H2O

Dissociation of carbonic acid:

CO2 + H2O H+ + HCO3- 2H+ + CO3

2-

Silicate cycle:

Ca2+ + SiO32- + 2H+ + 2HCO3

- CaCO3 + SiO2 + CO2 + 2H2O

Nitrate reduction (De-nitrification):

2NO3- + CH2O + 8H+ + 6e- N2 + CO2 + 5H2O

Chemosynthetic organism:

CO2 + 4H2S + O2 CH2O + 4S + 3H2O

Biogeochemistry (carbon) at work