After applying the iodine tool for a number of years, in 1982 I proposed this
iodine mechanism. I published and described this mechanism in 1986 in the
first APGE bulletin. Although I have tested the mechanism continually over
the years I have found nothing that would seriously challenge or contradict the
basics of the original speculation. cg
iodine mechanism. I published and described this mechanism in 1986 in the
first APGE bulletin. Although I have tested the mechanism continually over
the years I have found nothing that would seriously challenge or contradict the
basics of the original speculation. cg
| IODINE By Chuck Goudge, GrayStone Labs |
IODINE IN THE ENVIRONMENT
Most of what has been published about iodine in the environment has come from the studies
of the consequence of human iodine deficiency referred to as endemic goiter. Goiter has
almost disappeared with the recognition of the importance of dietary iodine and it's routine
addition to table salt. Some iodine data from goiter studies and subsequent iodine research
results are listed below:
Evaporative salts .........................avg. 10 ppb (Roeber)
Ocean ................................................... 50 ppb (Rankama, Sahama)
Igneous rocks ...............................avg. 100 ppb (R. Fuge)
Average Crustal Content ................... 300 ppb (Manson)
Sedimentary rocks .......................avg. 1800 ppb (Itkina, Lygalova)
Soils ............................................avg. 4800 ppb (Goudge, 260,000 + soil samples)
Evaporative sodium chloride deposits are surprisingly depleted in iodine. A chemist unfamiliar
with iodine would expect it's easy incorporation into the sodium chloride crystals due to the
chemical compatibility of the two elements. However, the data do not support this
assumption. The data reveals that sedimentary rocks are enhanced in iodine and that soils are
concentrated even further. Some soils are amazingly enriched, large areas of Texas average
20,000 ppb soil iodine. This is more than a 10-fold enrichment of the average regolith source
material and almost a 70 fold increase over the average crustal content.
WHY IODINE IS IN THE SOIL - THE HALOGENS
The reason that iodine ultimately concentrates in the soil is the result of its chemistry. Iodine is
one of the halogens, the most reactive group of elements in the periodic table. This group
includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine. The halogens are prominent anions in the
environment, forming largely ionic molecules. They are powerful oxidizers as neutral atom free
radicals. The halogens form diatomic molecules that are gases at normal temperatures and
pressures and therefore are mobile and play significant roles in the atmosphere, hydrosphere
and biosphere.
The halogens are the most organophilic elemental family, they react with hydrocarbons on
contact. Their reactivity makes them primary tools of organic chemistry. A routine, "Iodine
Number," unsaturated fat test must be protected from light to prevent the iodine from breaking
saturated bonds. All of the unsaturated bonds are replaced by iodine within minutes and the
"Iodine Number" is calculated as the grams of iodine absorbed divided by the grams of fat.
Iodine, as a halogen, needs an electron to complete its octet, but this is an electron deficient
world. The size, weight and electron density of iodine produces weak bonds. All of the
halogens can and do replace iodine from almost any molecule. Iodine is continually losing its
shared electron and is forced out as either the gasous/solid mobile diatomic molecule or the
reactive free radical. Iodine ends up at the interfaces, aqueous/sediment and gasous/solid,
seeking an electron with little hope of long maintaining it once it is acquired.
IODINE'S ELECTRON SOURCE IN THE SOIL - HYDROCARBONS
The chemical form of the iodine in the soil has been investigated by many iodine researchers,
most have found that soil iodine and organic matter are related. Vinogradov reported that soil
iodine was tightly held by organic compounds. Magomedova reported that 88% to 99%
percent of soil iodine was insoluble. Whitehead reported an increase in soluble iodine with
depth and that iodine and organic matter are closely correlated at the surface and this
correlation decreased with depth, implying that the iodine at the surface is bound to the
organic matter and that these iodoorganics are broken down as these compounds are buried
yielding soluble ionic iodine. Both Sobornikova and Johnson found iodine concentrations
decreasing with depth. Price and Calvert studied iodine in submarine mud and documented a
dynamic system of organic iodine fixation at the sediment/aqueous interface, burial and
eventual oxidation to I2 which then migrated back to the interface. Ninety percent of the
iodine fixed at the interface is liberated after the first 10 meters of burial.
THE SOIL IODINE CYCLE
Soil iodine enrichments and light hydrocarbon seepage have been directly correlated.
Hydrocarbon related iodine enrichments sometimes exceed 10 times the local soil iodine
background. All data indicate a very dynamic surface reaction, iodoorganics in a multi-step
equilibrium with the diatomic iodine gas. This equilibrium is a complex process that begins with
the replacement of organically bound hydrogen by iodine. This reaction is initiated when light
breaks the diatomic iodine molecule into free radicals.
1/2 I2 + LIGHT ----> I + RCH2CH3 ----> RCHICH3 + 1/2H2
This addition immobilizes the volatile hydrocarbons which then accumulate in the soil. The
"precipitated" iodohydrocarbon now exposed to the chemistry and biology of the soil
ultimately loses the iodine by replacement and is oxidized back to elemental iodine, completing
the cycle.
RCHICH3 + Cl ----> RCHClCH3+ 1/2 I2
This is a dynamic cycle that continues until the hydrocarbon source is terminated after which
the iodine will disperse looking for a new source of electrons.
Click here for more information on iodine.
Most of what has been published about iodine in the environment has come from the studies
of the consequence of human iodine deficiency referred to as endemic goiter. Goiter has
almost disappeared with the recognition of the importance of dietary iodine and it's routine
addition to table salt. Some iodine data from goiter studies and subsequent iodine research
results are listed below:
Evaporative salts .........................avg. 10 ppb (Roeber)
Ocean ................................................... 50 ppb (Rankama, Sahama)
Igneous rocks ...............................avg. 100 ppb (R. Fuge)
Average Crustal Content ................... 300 ppb (Manson)
Sedimentary rocks .......................avg. 1800 ppb (Itkina, Lygalova)
Soils ............................................avg. 4800 ppb (Goudge, 260,000 + soil samples)
Evaporative sodium chloride deposits are surprisingly depleted in iodine. A chemist unfamiliar
with iodine would expect it's easy incorporation into the sodium chloride crystals due to the
chemical compatibility of the two elements. However, the data do not support this
assumption. The data reveals that sedimentary rocks are enhanced in iodine and that soils are
concentrated even further. Some soils are amazingly enriched, large areas of Texas average
20,000 ppb soil iodine. This is more than a 10-fold enrichment of the average regolith source
material and almost a 70 fold increase over the average crustal content.
WHY IODINE IS IN THE SOIL - THE HALOGENS
The reason that iodine ultimately concentrates in the soil is the result of its chemistry. Iodine is
one of the halogens, the most reactive group of elements in the periodic table. This group
includes fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine. The halogens are prominent anions in the
environment, forming largely ionic molecules. They are powerful oxidizers as neutral atom free
radicals. The halogens form diatomic molecules that are gases at normal temperatures and
pressures and therefore are mobile and play significant roles in the atmosphere, hydrosphere
and biosphere.
The halogens are the most organophilic elemental family, they react with hydrocarbons on
contact. Their reactivity makes them primary tools of organic chemistry. A routine, "Iodine
Number," unsaturated fat test must be protected from light to prevent the iodine from breaking
saturated bonds. All of the unsaturated bonds are replaced by iodine within minutes and the
"Iodine Number" is calculated as the grams of iodine absorbed divided by the grams of fat.
Iodine, as a halogen, needs an electron to complete its octet, but this is an electron deficient
world. The size, weight and electron density of iodine produces weak bonds. All of the
halogens can and do replace iodine from almost any molecule. Iodine is continually losing its
shared electron and is forced out as either the gasous/solid mobile diatomic molecule or the
reactive free radical. Iodine ends up at the interfaces, aqueous/sediment and gasous/solid,
seeking an electron with little hope of long maintaining it once it is acquired.
IODINE'S ELECTRON SOURCE IN THE SOIL - HYDROCARBONS
The chemical form of the iodine in the soil has been investigated by many iodine researchers,
most have found that soil iodine and organic matter are related. Vinogradov reported that soil
iodine was tightly held by organic compounds. Magomedova reported that 88% to 99%
percent of soil iodine was insoluble. Whitehead reported an increase in soluble iodine with
depth and that iodine and organic matter are closely correlated at the surface and this
correlation decreased with depth, implying that the iodine at the surface is bound to the
organic matter and that these iodoorganics are broken down as these compounds are buried
yielding soluble ionic iodine. Both Sobornikova and Johnson found iodine concentrations
decreasing with depth. Price and Calvert studied iodine in submarine mud and documented a
dynamic system of organic iodine fixation at the sediment/aqueous interface, burial and
eventual oxidation to I2 which then migrated back to the interface. Ninety percent of the
iodine fixed at the interface is liberated after the first 10 meters of burial.
THE SOIL IODINE CYCLE
Soil iodine enrichments and light hydrocarbon seepage have been directly correlated.
Hydrocarbon related iodine enrichments sometimes exceed 10 times the local soil iodine
background. All data indicate a very dynamic surface reaction, iodoorganics in a multi-step
equilibrium with the diatomic iodine gas. This equilibrium is a complex process that begins with
the replacement of organically bound hydrogen by iodine. This reaction is initiated when light
breaks the diatomic iodine molecule into free radicals.
1/2 I2 + LIGHT ----> I + RCH2CH3 ----> RCHICH3 + 1/2H2
This addition immobilizes the volatile hydrocarbons which then accumulate in the soil. The
"precipitated" iodohydrocarbon now exposed to the chemistry and biology of the soil
ultimately loses the iodine by replacement and is oxidized back to elemental iodine, completing
the cycle.
RCHICH3 + Cl ----> RCHClCH3+ 1/2 I2
This is a dynamic cycle that continues until the hydrocarbon source is terminated after which
the iodine will disperse looking for a new source of electrons.
Click here for more information on iodine.
.
.
GrayStone Exploration Labs, Inc.
| General Info |