Carbon cycle in a sulphur-based biochemistry

I'm designing a world with advanced life forms that use a sulphur-based biochemistry (see this link for context). I would like to create a carbon cycle analogous to Earth, where:

• Photosynthesis transforms carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O) into glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆) and oxygen (O₂).
• Cellular respiration consumes O₂ and releases CO₂ + H₂O, maintaining equilibrium.

In my world, I would like:

• Photosynthesis to take methane (CH₄) and sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) to produce sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and a hydrocarbon that performs the same role as glucose (let's call it substance X).
• Cellular respiration to consume SO₂ and release CH4 + H₂SO₄, again maintaining equilibrium.
• Substance X would therefore need to have a molecular formula with 1×C, 6×H, 2×O (or a multiple in proportion, e.g., 2×C, 12×H, 4×O).
• No oxygen (O₂) in the atmosphere.
• No production of water in the photosynthetic reaction.

The ideal solution would be a hydrocarbon that actually exists, with a molecular formula using the atoms mentioned above. If that's not possible, what if:

• Sulphur trioxide (SO₃) is used instead of SO₂?
• A third, nitrogen-based gas is added (such as ammonia or nitric acid) such that photosynthesis takes CH₄,"‚H₂SO₄, third gas; and respiration takes SO₂ to release CH₄,"‚H₂SO₄ and the third gas.

posted almost 6 years ago

Allie Enfield‭

1 reputation 1 0 0 0