Solid phase microextraction in Mars exploration

By R. Lucena -
We recover today an interesting article published a few months ago in the International Journal of Astrobiology. The search for life (or trace remains of it) in Mars is still discussed in the scientific community. In this sense, organic molecules can be considered as tracers of a potential existing life or extinct life. However, the extreme conditions of Mars surface (UV solar radiation, for example) are not the best environment to preserve these organic molecules. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are ubiquitous in the solar system, are especially resistant to these hard conditions. In fact, PAHs have been detected in meteorites.

In this article, the authors evaluated the potential of solid phase microextraction (SPME) under its headspace (HS) mode for the extraction of PAHs in Mars analogue soil samples. The final identification and determination of the extracted analytes are achieved by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Soil obtained near to Mars Dessert Research Station (MDRS, Utah) as well as from Peru and Denmark, were evaluated as model samples due to their similarity to the red planet surface. HS-SPME results an efficient alternative to the determination of PAHs in soil samples although compounds with more than four rings cannot be efficiently extracted due to their low vapor pressures. In this study, the potential of SPME is also compared to liquid extraction using certified reference materials.


For more detailed information, the readers are referred to the article.

Link to the article: Analysis of Mars analogue soil samples using solid-phase microextraction, organic solvent extraction and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Other links:

Link to: Qualitative analysis of soils samples using solid phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS)






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