An Orbitrap-based laser desorption/ablation mass spectrometer designed for spaceflight

Ricardo Arevalo 1 Laura Selliez 2 Christelle Briois 2 Nathalie Carrasco 3 Laurent Thirkell 2 Barnabé Cherville 2 Fabrice Colin 2 Bertrand Gaubicher 2 Benjamin Farcy 1 Xiang Li 4 Alexander Makarov 5
1 Department of Geology [College Park]
2 LPC2E - Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement et de l'Espace
3 IMPEC - LATMOS
LATMOS - Laboratoire Atmosphères, Milieux, Observations Spatiales
4 CSST - Center for Space Science and Technology
5 Thermo Fisher Scientific
Abstract : Rationale The investigation of cryogenic planetary environments as potential harbors for extant life and/or contemporary sites of organic synthesis represents an emerging focal point in planetary exploration. Next generation instruments need to be capable of unambiguously determining elemental and/or molecular stoichiometry via highly accurate mass measurements and the separation of isobaric interferences. Methods An OrbitrapTM analyzer adapted for spaceflight (referred to as the CosmOrbitrap), coupled with a commercial pulsed UV laser source (266 nm), was used to successfully characterize a variety of planetary analog samples via ultrahigh resolution laser desorption/ablation mass spectrometry. The materials analyzed in this study include: jarosite (a hydrous sulfate detected on Mars); magnesium sulfate (a potential component of the subsurface ocean on Europa); uracil (a nucleobase of RNA); and a variety of amino acids. Results The instrument configuration tested here enables: measurement of major elements and organic molecules with ultrahigh mass resolution (m/Δm ≥ 120,000, FWHM); quantification of isotopic abundances with <1.0% (2σ) precision; and, identification of highly accurate masses within 3.2 ppm of absolute values. The analysis of a residue of a dilute solution of amino acids demonstrates the capacity to detect twelve amino acids in positive ion mode at concentrations as low as ≤1 pmol/mm2 while maintaining mass resolution and accuracy requirements. Conclusions The CosmOrbitrap mass analyzer is highly sensitive and delivers mass resolution/accuracy unmatched by any instrument sent into orbit or launched into deep space. This prototype instrument, which maps to a spaceflight implementation, represents a mission‐enabling technology capable of advancing planetary exploration for decades to come.
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Submitted on : Tuesday, August 7, 2018 - 12:32:06 PM
Last modification on : Friday, August 2, 2019 - 2:30:11 PM

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Ricardo Arevalo, Laura Selliez, Christelle Briois, Nathalie Carrasco, Laurent Thirkell, et al.. An Orbitrap-based laser desorption/ablation mass spectrometer designed for spaceflight. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry, Wiley, 2018, 32 (21), pp.1875-1886. ⟨10.1002/rcm.8244⟩. ⟨insu-01854950⟩

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