Characterization of Salting-Out Processes during CO2-Clathrate Formation Using Raman Spectroscopy: Planetological Application

Clathrate hydrates are particular solids that planetologists study in detail because those solids may be present in several bodies of the solar system, such as Mars, comets, and the icy satellites. The solids are formed by solid H₂O, like common water ice, but adopt open structures with cavities containing gas molecules. Clathrate hydrates are usually stable at relatively low temperature and high pressure, which are the typical conditions present inside these planetary objects. Their interest for astrobiology is that they represent potential sources of liquid water and gases when they decompose. The present work is focused on the crystallization of clathrates in Europa's (icy satellite of Jupiter) interior conditions. We postulate that clathrate hydrates may play an important role in its crust mineralogy and that it can explain some features of the satellite's surface due to their formation/destabilization. An in situ kinetic study by Raman Spectroscopy of the clathrate formation from salty solutions was performed in our laboratory. The chemical composition that we used mimics those obtained from Europa's surface during the Galileo mission. An effect of the salting-out process in the solution was monitored through the clathrate formational path. Our results demonstrate that this process may have geological consequences on Europa and confirm the suitability of Raman spectroscopy for planetary detection of clathrate hydrates and other ices.