Photosynthesis of Amino Acids and Peptides Involving Photochemical Fixation of Nitrogen in Sterilized Aqueous Mixtures Containing Paraformaldehyde and Inorganic Catalysts

Abstract

Sterilized aqueous mixtures containing para-formaldehyde, and Ni^**, Co⁺⁺, V⁺⁺ ions as catalysts were exposed to sunlight for 400 hours. Similar mixtures were covered with four folds of black cloth and were kept near the exposed mixtures. The catalytic effect of these metallic ions on photochemical fixation of nitrogen was found in the following order:
vanadium^**>cobalt^**>nickel^**
Synthesis of amino acids and peptides were also observed in the mixtures containing these catalysts on exposure to sunlight. However, mixtures kept in dark indicated the formation of traces of aminoacids only.