Structural Characterization of the Body Frame and Spicules of a Glass Sponge

Abstract

The nanostructure (atomic-scale structure) and water species in the body frame and spicules of the marine glass sponge, Euplectella aspergillum, collected from the sea floor around Cebu Island was characterized in detail by thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Raman and infrared spectroscopies, and X-ray diffraction method. The structural features of the nanostructure in the body frame and spicules were essentially similar to each other, although these were different from those of inorganic amorphous silica materials, such as silica gel and silica glass. In addition, the averaged short and medium range structures of the sponge may be similar to those of tridymite. The water content and water species included in the body frame and spicules were almost the same. More than half of the contained water was physisorbed water molecules, and the rest was attributed to Q3 and Q2 silanol groups. Most of the water species may be present at the surface and involved in hydrogen bonding.