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This picture represents the analysis of inorganic salts and amino acids, important biosignatures in the search for extraterrestrial life, in samples of high salinity. Samples from Ocean Worlds such as Europa and Enceladus are expected to contain high amounts of salts. We have developed a method capable of simultaneous determination of all these species, regardless of the sample salinity. This method could be used in future missions targeting Ocean Worlds to determine the concentration of salts, to evaluate habitability, as well as to identify samples with potential biosignatures.
Above: This picture represents the analysis of inorganic salts and amino acids, important biosignatures in the search for extraterrestrial life, in samples of high salinity. Samples from Ocean Worlds such as Europa and Enceladus are expected to contain high amounts of salts. We have developed a method capable of simultaneous determination of all these species, regardless of the sample salinity. This method could be used in future missions targeting Ocean Worlds to determine the concentration of salts, to evaluate habitability, as well as to identify samples with potential biosignatures.

Inorg- & Org- anics

Salty Organic Chemistry

Fernanda Mora - Mauro Ferreira Santos - Elizabeth Jaramillo - Aaron Noell
MDL researchers have developed analytical methods for simultaneous determination of both organic and inorganic species by capillary electrophoresis coupled to contactless conductivity detection (CE-C4D). This technique provides a unique approach capable of separating and detecting any charged species in solution and it only needs a low power high voltage supply (up to 20 kV), an electrolyte solution, and a hollow glass capillary. As such, it holds tremendous promise for future missions, especially to ocean worlds where analysis of soluble species could help answer questions about habitability and the presence of life.
As in Earth’s oceans, samples from Ocean Worlds such as Europa (one of Jupiter’s moons) and Enceladus (one of Saturn’s moons) could contain high amounts of salts. A series of flight-compatible methods capable of simultaneously measuring inorganic cations and amino acids in samples of varying salinity by CE-C4D have been demonstrated. The methods were evaluated by analyzing natural samples of varying salinity from Hot Creek Gorge, Santa Monica beach, and Mono Lake. These protocols could be used in future missions targeting Ocean Worlds to determine the concentration of salts, to evaluate habitability, as well as to identify samples with potential biosignatures.
The paper [1] on simultaneous analysis of inorganic and organic ions describes a method for simultaneous analysis of inorganic cations and amino acids by capillary electrophoresis coupled to contactless conductivity detection (CE-C<sup>4</sup>D). A buffer system composed of 5.0 M acetic acid was selected as optimum for the analysis, regardless of the sample total salinity. Due to the short analysis time, this method could be used in future missions targeting ocean worlds to identify samples with potential biosignatures for further analysis with more sensitive instrumentation.
The paper [1] on simultaneous analysis of inorganic and organic ions describes a method for simultaneous analysis of inorganic cations and amino acids by capillary electrophoresis coupled to contactless conductivity detection (CE-C4D). A buffer system composed of 5.0 M acetic acid was selected as optimum for the analysis, regardless of the sample total salinity. Due to the short analysis time, this method could be used in future missions targeting ocean worlds to identify samples with potential biosignatures for further analysis with more sensitive instrumentation.
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