Interaction of ribose nucleotides with metal ferrocyanides and its relevance in chemical evolution

Interaction of ribose nucleotides with cobalt- and cadmium ferrocyanides was found maximum at neutral pH. Adsorption trend followed Langmuir isotherms. The Langmuir constants, Xm and KL were calculated. Purine nucleotides adsorbed more than pyrimidine nucleotides on both the metal ferrocyanides. Cobalt ferrocyanide was found a better adsorbent for all the ribose nucleotides studied. Infrared spectral studies of the adsorption adducts suggested that the adsorption occurs due to interaction of ribose nucleotide molecule with outer divalent metal ion present in the lattice of metal ferrocyanides. The results of the present study suggest that the metal ferrocyanides could have concentrated and stabilised the ribose nucleotides on their surface through adsorption processes during the course of chemical evolution.