# Theoretical and experimental studies for kinetic and entry models in an astrobiological context: The case of Ca/Mg-rich carbonates.

D'Elia M., Orofino V., Mancarella F., Longo S., Micca Longo G.

Comunicazione
III - Astrofisica
Aula GSSI Rettorato - Auditorium - Giovedì 26 h 09:00 - 12:30
One of the core subjects in Astrobiology is the delivery of extraterrestrial organic matter to Earth. Life-related molecules could reach the Earth's surface inside micrometeorites in the form of solid particles or grains. In order to evaluate the thermal behavior of sub-mm grains during the atmospheric entry process, we developed numerical models of this process and we studied the decomposition reaction using a kinetic model for chemical composition and entry models coupled with experimental (thermal, spectroscopic and gravimetric) analyses. We compare the theoretical and the experimental results obtained for two materials that are increasingly detected inside meteorites: calcium carbonate ($CaCO_3$) and magnesium carbonate ($MgCO_3$).