Compact two‐step laser time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer for <i>in situ</i> analyses of aromatic organics on planetary missions

Getty, Stéphanie; Brinckerhoff, W. B.; Cornish, Timothy J.; Ecelberger, S. A.; Floyd, Melissa

doi:10.1002/rcm.6393

Cited by 45 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Laser desorption/ionization avoids the problem of oxidation of organic compounds by minerals at high temperature (Getty et al, 2012). However, a systematic evaluation of LDI efficiency in extracting biomarkers appears to be lacking.…”

Section: Impact Of Mineralogy On the Extraction Of Biomarkersmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Significance of Microbe-Mineral-Biomarker Interactions in the Detection of Life on Mars and Beyond

Röling¹,

Aerts²,

Patty³

et al. 2015

Astrobiology

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The detection of biomarkers plays a central role in our effort to establish whether there is, or was, life beyond Earth. In this review, we address the importance of considering mineralogy in relation to the selection of locations and biomarker detection methodologies with characteristics most promising for exploration. We review relevant mineral-biomarker and mineral-microbe interactions. The local mineralogy on a particular planet reflects its past and current environmental conditions and allows a habitability assessment by comparison with life under extreme conditions on Earth. The type of mineral significantly influences the potential abundances and types of biomarkers and microorganisms containing these biomarkers. The strong adsorptive power of some minerals aids in the preservation of biomarkers and may have been important in the origin of life. On the other hand, this strong adsorption as well as oxidizing properties of minerals can interfere with efficient extraction and detection of biomarkers. Differences in mechanisms of adsorption and in properties of minerals and biomarkers suggest that it will be difficult to design a single extraction procedure for a wide range of biomarkers. While on Mars samples can be used for direct detection of biomarkers such as nucleic acids, amino acids, and lipids, on other planetary bodies remote spectrometric detection of biosignatures has to be relied upon. The interpretation of spectral signatures of photosynthesis can also be affected by local mineralogy. We identify current gaps in our knowledge and indicate how they may be filled to improve the chances of detecting biomarkers on Mars and beyond.

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Section: Impact Of Mineralogy On the Extraction Of Biomarkersmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Significance of Microbe-Mineral-Biomarker Interactions in the Detection of Life on Mars and Beyond

Röling¹,

Aerts²,

Patty³

et al. 2015

Astrobiology

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show abstract

“…The development of a miniature time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF-MS) measuring less than 20 cm long has been previously reported [5][6][7][8][9]. In the simplest configuration, a UV laser (355 or 266 nm) is focused onto the surface of a solid sample to generate ions within a few-nanosecond pulse width, leading to unit mass resolution at several hundred Da.…”

Section: Instrument Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent proof-of-concept demonstrations of L2MS [8] and precision ion gating [9] has shown the feasibility of implementing these techniques in a miniature mass spectrometer. Here we further describe characterization of the L2MS technique using a compact instrument prototype for a suite of standards relevant to the study of planetary organics.…”

Section: Instrument Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Two-step laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (L2MS) in particular has proven to be a useful tool in terrestrial studies to identify reduced carbon, particularly aromatic species, in meteoritic and returned primitive solar system materials [1][2][3][4]. We have recently demonstrated L2MS with a highly-compact time-of-flight mass analyzer that was been previously developed for single-laser desorption and ionization studies on planetary analog materials [5][6][7][8][9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A compact tandem two-step laser time-of-flight mass spectrometer for in situ analysis of non-volatile organics on planetary surfaces

Getty

Brinckerhoff

et al. 2014

2014 IEEE Aerospace Conference

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Two-step laser desorption mass spectrometry is a well suited technique to the analysis of high priority classes of organics, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, present in complex samples. The use of decoupled desorption and ionization laser pulses allows for sensitive and selective detection of structurally intact organic species. We have recently demonstrated the implementation of this advancement in laser mass spectrometry in a compact, flight-compatible instrument that could feasibly be the centerpiece of an analytical science payload as part of a future spaceflight mission to a small body or icy moon.

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“…Recently, Getty et al [5] demonstrated that pyrene can be detected using a miniature time-of-flight mass spectrometer by desorbing pyrene from a deposited film under vacuum with an IR laser (1064 nm) and photoionizing the neutrals with a UV laser (266 nm). We take a similar approach with two important distinctions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ion Funnel Augmented Mars Atmospheric Pressure Photoionization Mass Spectrometry for In Situ Detection of Organic Molecules

Johnson

Hodyss

Beauchamp

2014

J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom.

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Laser desorption is an attractive technique for in situ sampling of organics on Mars given its relative simplicity. We demonstrate that under simulated Martian conditions (~2.5 Torr CO(2)) laser desorption of neutral species (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), followed by ionization with a simple ultraviolet light source such as a discharge lamp, offers an effective means of sampling organics for detection and identification with a mass spectrometer. An electrodynamic ion funnel is employed to provide efficient ion collection in the ambient Martian environment. This experimental methodology enables in situ sampling of Martian organics with minimal complexity and maximum flexibility.

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Compact two‐step laser time‐of‐flight mass spectrometer for in situ analyses of aromatic organics on planetary missions

Cited by 45 publications

References 18 publications

The Significance of Microbe-Mineral-Biomarker Interactions in the Detection of Life on Mars and Beyond

The Significance of Microbe-Mineral-Biomarker Interactions in the Detection of Life on Mars and Beyond

A compact tandem two-step laser time-of-flight mass spectrometer for in situ analysis of non-volatile organics on planetary surfaces

Ion Funnel Augmented Mars Atmospheric Pressure Photoionization Mass Spectrometry for In Situ Detection of Organic Molecules

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