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Published August 2014 | public
Conference Paper

RF-powered microreactor for efficient extraction and hydrolysis

Abstract

An RF sample-processing micro-reactor that was developed as part of potential in situ Exploration Missions to inner- and outer-planetary bodies was designed to utilize aq. solns. subjected to 60 GHz radiation at 730 mW of input power to ext. target org. compds. and mol. and inorg. ions as well as to hydrolyze complex polymeric materials. Successful identification and characterization of these mols. relies on the sample-processing techniques utilized alongside state-of-the-art detection and anal. For mass and power restrictions put on space exploration missions, smaller and more efficient instruments are highly desirable. The RF micro-reactor potentially offers a simplified alternative to the typical gold-std. extns. that often use solvents, chems., and conditions that can vary wildly and depend on the targeted mols. Instead, this instrument uses a single solvent -- water - that can be "tuned" under the different exptl. conditions, leveraging the operating principles of the Sub-Crit. Water Extractor. Proof-of-concept expts. examg. the hydrolysis of glycosidic and peptide bonds were successful in demonstrating the RF micro-reactor's capabilities. Progress toward coupling the reactor with a micro-scale sample-handling system enabling slurry delivery has been made and preliminary results on heterogeneous reactions and extns. will be presented.

Additional Information

© 2014 American Chemical Society.

Additional details

Created:
August 20, 2023
Modified:
October 17, 2023