Thermal degradation of organics for pyrolysis in space: Titan’s atmospheric aerosol case study

He, Jiating; Buch, Arnaud; Carrasco, Nathalie; Szopa, Cyril

doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2014.10.010

Cited by 9 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…However, other TG-MS curves with minor intensity were observed that were mostly related to the presence of polysaccharides and proteins that in fact were the main organic components of the sample as indicated by biochemical data. The intensity of TG-MS curves is related to the main volatiles released from the sample and is comparable with curves obtained with synthetic and pure organic samples generated during prebiotic chemistry experiments, such as tholins and HCN polymers (De la Fuente et al , 2011 ; Nna-Mvondo et al 2013 ; He et al 2015 ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Critical Assessment of Analytical Techniques in the Search for Biomarkers on Mars: A Mummified Microbial Mat from Antarctica as a Best-Case Scenario

et al. 2017

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The search for biomarkers of present or past life is one of the major challenges for in situ planetary exploration. Multiple constraints limit the performance and sensitivity of remote in situ instrumentation. In addition, the structure, chemical, and mineralogical composition of the sample may complicate the analysis and interpretation of the results. The aim of this work is to highlight the main constraints, performance, and complementarity of several techniques that have already been implemented or are planned to be implemented on Mars for detection of organic and molecular biomarkers on a best-case sample scenario. We analyzed a 1000-year-old desiccated and mummified microbial mat from Antarctica by Raman and IR (infrared) spectroscopies (near- and mid-IR), thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis, mass spectrometry (MS), and immunological detection with a life detector chip. In spite of the high organic content (ca. 20% wt/wt) of the sample, the Raman spectra only showed the characteristic spectral peaks of the remaining beta-carotene biomarker and faint peaks of phyllosilicates over a strong fluorescence background. IR spectra complemented the mineralogical information from Raman spectra and showed the main molecular vibrations of the humic acid functional groups. The TG-MS system showed the release of several volatile compounds attributed to biopolymers. An antibody microarray for detecting cyanobacteria (CYANOCHIP) detected biomarkers from Chroococcales, Nostocales, and Oscillatoriales orders. The results highlight limitations of each technique and suggest the necessity of complementary approaches in the search for biomarkers because some analytical techniques might be impaired by sample composition, presentation, or processing. Key Words: Planetary exploration—Life detection—Microbial mat—Life detector chip—Thermogravimetry—Raman spectroscopy—NIR—DRIFTS. Astrobiology 17, 984–996.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Critical Assessment of Analytical Techniques in the Search for Biomarkers on Mars: A Mummified Microbial Mat from Antarctica as a Best-Case Scenario

et al. 2017

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“…are also thermally degraded at similar temperatures than HCN polymers with a mass loss up to 90 % of the initial mass and residues reorganized with a progressive increase of polyaromatic units (Bonnet et al, 2015;He et al, 2015). The N-rich aromatics are also found in Insoluble Organic Matter (IOM) in carbonaceous chondrites and have probably a cometary origin (Aleon et al, 2003).…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analogues of interplanetary dust particles to interpret the zodiacal light polarization

Hadamcik

Lasue

Levasseur-Regourd

et al. 2020

Planetary and Space Science

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Context: Some local properties of the dust particles that build the interplanetary dust cloud may be deduced from the light they scatter (with emphasize on their linear polarization). The ratio of organics (absorbing particles) to silicates (more transparent particles) was suggested through numerical simulations to reproduce the shape of the polarimetric phase curve and the decrease in polarization with decreasing solar distance. Aims: Reproducing these properties, through measurements on real dust particles lifted in microgravity conditions, in the PROGRA2 light scattering experiment. Using dust analogues with parameters similar to those derived from numerical simulations. Methods: Analogue particles, previously tested for the two main sources of dust in the inner interplanetary cloud (comets and asteroids) were used in the experiment. The ratio between fluffy aggregates and compact particles was kept constant. Five samples were studied, corresponding to mixtures with the organics / silicates ratio as defined in the numerical simulation Results: We show that we can reproduce by experimental simulations the polarimetric properties of particles present in the inner interplanetary dust cloud, i.e. their polarimetric phase curve in the symmetry plane at 1.5 au from the Sun and variations of polarization at a 90° phase angle as a function of the solar distance between 0.5 au and 1.5 au. The effect of the different parameters suggests a size distribution of the particles following a power law with coefficients of (-3 ± 0.5) for a size-range of 10-100 µm and (-4.4 ± 0.6) for a size range of 100-200 µm, with a steep cutoff at about 10 microns, a constant ratio of (35 ± 10) % in mass of fluffy aggregates versus compact particles and a decreasing ratio of organics with decreasing solar distance. Such results are discussed in the context of recent evidence on cometary dust particles from the Rosetta mission to a Jupiter family comet.

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“…The interaction of cosmic rays' analogues with N 2 -rich ices inside icy bodies in the outer Solar System already shown a production of a few different species (HCN, CN − , NH 3 …) [12][13][14]. The identification of the desorbed species has shown that the chemical families of volatiles follow a similar trend under pyrolysis [15]. Herein, we reported that GCRs are likely to create diversity in desorbed volatiles from the organic surface of Pluto.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Simulated effect of the Galactic Cosmic Rays on the surface of Pluto’s dark-red region

César¹,

Jovanović²,

Gautier³

et al. 2024

Preprint

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HAL is a multidisciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.

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Thermal degradation of organics for pyrolysis in space: Titan’s atmospheric aerosol case study

Cited by 9 publications

References 36 publications

Critical Assessment of Analytical Techniques in the Search for Biomarkers on Mars: A Mummified Microbial Mat from Antarctica as a Best-Case Scenario

Critical Assessment of Analytical Techniques in the Search for Biomarkers on Mars: A Mummified Microbial Mat from Antarctica as a Best-Case Scenario

Analogues of interplanetary dust particles to interpret the zodiacal light polarization

Simulated effect of the Galactic Cosmic Rays on the surface of Pluto’s dark-red region

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Thermal degradation of organics for pyrolysis in space: Titan’s atmospheric aerosol case study

Cited by 9 publications

References 36 publications

Critical Assessment of Analytical Techniques in the Search for Biomarkers on Mars: A Mummified Microbial Mat from Antarctica as a Best-Case Scenario

Critical Assessment of Analytical Techniques in the Search for Biomarkers on Mars: A Mummified Microbial Mat from Antarctica as a Best-Case Scenario

Analogues of interplanetary dust particles to interpret the zodiacal light polarization

Simulated effect of the Galactic Cosmic Rays on the surface of Pluto&#8217;s dark-red region

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Simulated effect of the Galactic Cosmic Rays on the surface of Pluto’s dark-red region