Do amino acids equilibrate in hydrothermal fluids?

Analysis of data reported by Miller and Bada (1988) shows that three aqueous amino acids approached metastable equilibrium concentrations toward the end of hydrous pyrolysis experiments conducted at 250°C and 265 atm. The experiments were terminated before the system had stabilized completely, but these results indicate that amino acids equilibrate in aqueous solution at hydrothermal conditions. Although unintentional, this may be the first experimental confirmation that metastable equilibria characterize the interaction of organic compounds in hydrothermal fluids.