Event Title
Lipid Decontamination Procedures for Life Detection Mission
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Location
Clifford Hall, Room 210
Document Type
presentation
Start Date
8-5-2019 3:30 PM
End Date
8-5-2019 3:45 PM
Description
There is a knowledge gap in quantifying the effects of decontamination techniques (both traditional and new/non-traditional) on lipid contamination. Newly developed cleaning techniques, such as electron beam irradiation (EBI), show promise for reducing lipid contamination below the ~ppb level mandated by new analytical instrumentation, but additional testing is required to assess EBI decontamination effects on lipid molecules. EBI is especially attractive because it breaks the bonds of molecular contaminants present, as opposed to wiping or flushing contaminants away. Further, though EBI can destroy some organic molecules and biomolecules, it can be applied to many of the synthetic materials used to construct life detection instruments (i.e. polymers, epoxies, electronics, etc) without destroying or seriously degrading those materials. This provides potential application for efficient whole-instrument decontamination following fabrication.
To explore solutions for lipid decontamination, I propose to study techniques that decontaminate by destroying contaminants through molecular bond breaks. I will study both traditional/PP approved and non-traditional/recently developed decontamination techniques for application to life detection instruments, measuring effects on lipid molecules. I hypothesize traditional techniques will be either 1. ineffective at reducing lipid contamination to meet LOD limits, and/or 2. incompatible with instrument hardware. After assessing percent reduction in lipid contamination following traditional treatment, I will explore EBI for 1. ability to eliminate lipid contamination, and 2. material compatibility with instrument components. I hypothesize that EBI will be 1. highly effective at reducing lipid contamination, and 2. compatible with instrument materials, thus a viable decontamination method for application to life detection missions.
Lipid Decontamination Procedures for Life Detection Mission
Clifford Hall, Room 210
There is a knowledge gap in quantifying the effects of decontamination techniques (both traditional and new/non-traditional) on lipid contamination. Newly developed cleaning techniques, such as electron beam irradiation (EBI), show promise for reducing lipid contamination below the ~ppb level mandated by new analytical instrumentation, but additional testing is required to assess EBI decontamination effects on lipid molecules. EBI is especially attractive because it breaks the bonds of molecular contaminants present, as opposed to wiping or flushing contaminants away. Further, though EBI can destroy some organic molecules and biomolecules, it can be applied to many of the synthetic materials used to construct life detection instruments (i.e. polymers, epoxies, electronics, etc) without destroying or seriously degrading those materials. This provides potential application for efficient whole-instrument decontamination following fabrication.
To explore solutions for lipid decontamination, I propose to study techniques that decontaminate by destroying contaminants through molecular bond breaks. I will study both traditional/PP approved and non-traditional/recently developed decontamination techniques for application to life detection instruments, measuring effects on lipid molecules. I hypothesize traditional techniques will be either 1. ineffective at reducing lipid contamination to meet LOD limits, and/or 2. incompatible with instrument hardware. After assessing percent reduction in lipid contamination following traditional treatment, I will explore EBI for 1. ability to eliminate lipid contamination, and 2. material compatibility with instrument components. I hypothesize that EBI will be 1. highly effective at reducing lipid contamination, and 2. compatible with instrument materials, thus a viable decontamination method for application to life detection missions.