Recovery of Fatty Acids from Mineralogic Mars Analogs by TMAH Thermochemolysis for the Sample Analysis at Mars Wet Chemistry Experiment on the Curiosity Rover.

摘要: The Mars Curiosity rover carries a diverse instrument payload to characterize habitable environments in the sedimentary layers of Aeolis Mons. One these instruments is Sample Analysis at (SAM), which contains mass spectrometer that capable detecting organic compounds via pyrolysis gas chromatography spectrometry (py-GC-MS). To identify polar molecules, SAM thermochemolysis reagent tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) methanol (hereafter referred as TMAH). TMAH can liberate fatty acids bound macromolecules or chemically monomers associated with mineral phases and make organics detectable (GC-MS) by methylation. Fatty acids, type carboxylic acid carboxyl functional group, are particular interest given their presence both biotic abiotic materials. This work represents first analyses suite Mars-analog samples using experiment under select SAM-like conditions. Samples analyzed include iron oxyhydroxides oxyhydroxysulfates, mixture oxides/oxyhydroxides clays, sulfide, siliceous sinter, carbonates, shale. experiments produced signals conditions when were present either high concentrations geologically modern systems. Although only few analog exhibited abundance variety methyl esters (FAMEs), FAMEs detected majority tested. When utilized, on could be an opportunity detect molecules Mars. detection FAME profile great astrobiological interest, it provide information regarding source martian material SAM.