The formaldehyde reaction is a probable prebiotic chemical reaction best known for the production of sugars. In this work, we show that the Cannizzaro process is the dominant process for toluose reactions under many different conditions and therefore requires catalysts for toluose reactions under different environmental conditions.
        The studied formaldehyde reaction produces mainly organic acids associated with metabolism (protometabolic system) and a small amount of residual sugar. This is due to the decomposition of many sugars produced by the methyl sugar reaction and the formation of many acids by the Cannizzaro reaction.
        We also demonstrate heterogeneous Lewis acid catalysis of toluose reactions by mineral systems associated with serpentinization. Minerals exhibiting catalytic activity include olivine, serpentine, calcium and magnesium minerals including dolomite, calcite and our calcium and magnesium chemical garden. In addition, computational studies of the first stage of the formaldehyde reaction have been carried out to study the reaction of formaldehyde to form methanol and formic acid or to form glycolaldehyde via the Cannizzaro reaction.
       We therefore propose that serpentinization is an initiation process required for the initiation of a simple protometabolic system (formometabolic system).
       Starring: Arthur Omran, Asbell Gonzalez, Cesar Menor-Salvan, Michael Gaylor, Jing Wang, Jerzy Leszczynski and Tian Feng.
       Mineral catalysis of protometabolic form systems associated with serpentinization, Life (Open Access)
       Explorer Club Member, Former NASA Space Station Manager/Aerobiologist, Visitor Crew, Journalist, Frustrated Mountaineer, Synesthete, Na’Vi-Jedi-Freman-Buddhist Hybrid, ASL, Veteran of Devon Island and Everest Base Camp, (he/him)