(1) The SWEX instrument uses subcritical water extraction at different temperatures to extract a range of organic species from samples for analysis by multiple instruments. (2) It aims to provide an integrated sample handling and extraction system to lower costs and improve reliability for future Mars missions searching for organics and life. (3) Testing will extract and characterize organic molecules from various samples like soils and ice over a range of subcritical water temperatures to determine what is extracted and supply identical extracts to downstream detectors.

1. Subcritical Water EXtractor (SWEX)
For Life Search Instrument Suite
Point of contact: Carol Stoker (SST), email carol.r.stoker@nasa.gov , phone 650 604 6490
Problem: Lack of a well tested Mars mission
ACHIEVEMENT
QUANTITATIVE IMPACT
sample extraction processing system
integrated with the sample handling. Potential customers:
STATUS QUO
Future Mars organics and life
Current solution: Current Mars organic search missions such as:
analyzers have own sample extraction MAIN ACHIEVEMENT:
- Icebreaker
processors that have had problems as We build a breadboard flight organics extraction - Ice Dragon on Mars
shown in the Phoenix mission. processor using subcritical water and test for
Proposed solution: We build a single species of organics extracted for different extractor
extraction processor, integrated with the operating temperatures.
sample handling system providing for a
suite of organic and biological analyzers. HOW IT WORKS:
Starting TRL:2: Water is heated under pressure (20 MPa), modifying itʼs
dielectric constants, thus changing organic solvent
Innovation: We use subcritical water
extraction of organic species over characteristics.#
different temperatures to provide a
range of organics for different detection The the subcritical water is passed through the sample at
instruments from the same sample. different temperatures, extracting organic species as a
Our Role: We integrate our sample function of the temperature #
handling capability to the proposed
generic organic extractor facilitated by The extracted material is provided to the detector suite. #
END-OF-TASK OBJECTIVES
our organics detection understanding.
The significance: Deliverables: Design element fidelity
sufficient for cost modeling
(1) Lower Costs and greater reliability:
Designing and testing 1 generic Start-end TRL:Start 2 End 3
extraction processor saves cost and Total Budget/Sched: 50K/12 mo
NEW INSIGHTS
improves on reliability. Team:
(2) Good science: The extractor provides Carol Stoker (SST): Organization,
an identical and characterized planetary protection
extraction from the same sample to all
David Willson (ARC/KISS): Engineering
instruments providing a different
science perspective of the same Richard Quinn (ARC/SETI): Chemistry
sample. Arwen Dave (ARC/Lockheed): Sample
(3) Integration of sample handling and handling
extraction process: Sample handling Follow-on work:
and extraction is integrated and Develop flight prototype
tested separate from detection. #
Lowers cost, increases reliability, good science, integrates sample handling & extraction processes.

2. Subcritical Water Organics Extractor for Organic Analyzer Instruments
09 Oct 2012, ARCTEK Presentation.
C.R Stoker1, D Willson2, R.C. Quinn3, A.I. Dave4
(1) Principle Investigator NASA Ames , (2) NASA Ames/KISS Institute of practical robotics
(3) NASA Ames/SETI Institute, (4) NASA Ames/Lockheed Martin
Objective:
We develop a prototype organics extractor to supply a suite of instruments using subcritical water as a
solvent that:
- Receives scooped or drilled surface samples from a range of materials ie soils, ice etc
- extracts a range of potential organic molecules using subcritical water
- delivers an identical characterized extract product to downstream detectors
Left: Icebreaker drilling for life on Mars
Advantage for NASA Ames:
(1) Good Science: Provides an identical characterized extraction from the sample to a suite of
organics and biogenic organic detectors.
(2) An Integrated sample handling & extraction system: Provide an integrated sample handling
package of drill, a robot sample transfer arm and an organic extraction instrument.
(3) Lower Costs and greater reliability: Designing and testing 1 generic extraction processor saves
cost and focuses on reliability.

3. Method: The Science of Subcritical Water Extraction
Why an extraction process?
Separate and concentrate the target species prior to delivery to analyzers. Lowers complexity of
analyzers which otherwise have to incorporate this function
Why Subcritical water?
We can separate organic species as a function of subcritical water temperature and pressure
Other methods require many organic solvents for the same extraction.
We aim to affirm: What organics are extracted over the subcritical temperature range.
Table of organic species extraction temperatures (derived from (1))
Decreasing dielectric constant What is Subcritical water?
25°C 35°C 85°C 145°C 275°C
Subcritical water temperature range
185°C 225°C 325°C
@ 20 MPapressure
Carbohydrates
Amino acids & peptides
Lipids
Hetrocycles
Polynulear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
Above: Organics extraction – water dielectric constant – temperature @ 20 MPa1
(1)
Amashukeli
X.,
Pelle3er
C.C.,
Kirby
J.P.,1
and
Grunthaner
F.J.
2007,
Subcri3cal
water
extrac3on
of
amino
acids
from
Atacama
Desert
soils,
Journal
of
geophysical
research,
vol.
112,
G04S16 Above: Water phase diagram

4. Method: The Generic Subcritical Water Extractor Process
DIRT to DATA sample handling (top) and extraction (below) process flow diagrams.
Our ultimate aim is to develop an extractor plant for
future flight mission
Left: Sample handing to extractor process flow
diagram
Below: Organic extraction process flow
diagram & Detection

5. Applications
- Any mission that has organic detection as an objective
- By solving the sample handling problem in a system, we relieve many other candidate
instruments of also having to develop their own independent sample handling
hardware.
- The Icebreaker life search mission, a mission concept for Discovery does organic
analysis and biomarker detection on extracted product. This concept would simplify
sample handling for the Icebreaker instruments
Above: Icebreaker Life detection mission