Thermodynamics of chemical free energy generation in off-axis hydrothermal vent systems and its consequences for compartmentalization and the emergence of life

TL;DR

This paper explores how off-axis hydrothermal vents can produce chemical free energy through inorganic compartmentalization, potentially facilitating the emergence of life by supporting RNA self-replication.

Contribution

It introduces a thermodynamic framework for understanding chemical free energy generation in hydrothermal systems and links inorganic processes to the origin of life.

Findings

Inorganic heterogenous compartmentalization stabilizes systems away from equilibrium.

Hydrothermal vents can produce chemical free energy suitable for biological processes.

RNA self-replication may be driven by thermodynamically favorable conditions in vent systems.

Abstract

In this paper we demonstrate how chemical free energy can be produced by a geological process. We provide a thermodynamic framework in which to assess how life emerged at the off-axis hydrothermal vent system; the RNA - clays system has been investigated from the entropic point of view, showing that the stabilization of the system in a state further away from equilibrium state, by an inorganic heterogeneous compartmetalization phenomena, is able to produce chemical free energy useful for RNA self - replication.