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Perchlorate‐Driven Combustion of Organic Matter During Pyrolysis‐Gas Chromatography‐Mass Spectrometry: Implications for Organic Matter Detection on Earth and Mars
Author(s) -
Royle Samuel H.,
Oberlin Elizabeth,
Watson Jonathan S.,
Montgomery Wren,
Kounaves Samuel P.,
Sephton Mark A.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: planets
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9100
pISSN - 2169-9097
DOI - 10.1029/2018je005615
Subject(s) - organic matter , perchlorate , mass spectrometry , pyrolysis , chemistry , mars exploration program , extraction (chemistry) , carbon fibers , environmental chemistry , astrobiology , materials science , organic chemistry , chromatography , ion , physics , composite number , composite material
The search for life on Mars targets the detection of organic matter from extant or extinct organisms. Current protocols use thermal extraction procedures to transfer organic matter to mass spectrometer detectors. Oxidizing minerals on Mars, such as perchlorate, interfere with organic detection by thermal extraction. Thermal decomposition of perchlorate releases oxygen, which promotes combustion of organic carbon. We have assessed the minimum mass ratio of organic carbon to perchlorate required to detect organic matter by thermal extraction and mass spectrometry. Locations on Mars with organic carbon to perchlorate ratios above 4.7–9.6 should be targeted. Because habitability is enhanced by the presence of liquid water and because perchlorate is a water‐soluble salt, locations on Mars with evidence of past or recent liquid water are high priority targets.