Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-m6dg7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T14:57:36.219Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Perchlorate on Mars: a chemical hazard and a resource for humans

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2013

Alfonso F. Davila ,
David Willson ,
John D. Coates  and
Christopher P. McKay
Alfonso F. Davila
Affiliation:
Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute, 189 Bernardo Avenue, Suite 100, Mountain View, CA 94043-5203, USA e-mail: adavila@seti.org Space Sciences and Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
David Willson
Affiliation:
Space Sciences and Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
John D. Coates
Affiliation:
Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, 271 Koshland Hall, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Christopher P. McKay
Affiliation:
Space Sciences and Astrobiology Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Perchlorate (ClO4−) is widespread in Martian soils at concentrations between 0.5 and 1%. At such concentrations, perchlorate could be an important source of oxygen, but it could also become a critical chemical hazard to astronauts. In this paper, we review the dual implications of ClO4− on Mars, and propose a biochemical approach for removal of perchlorate from Martian soil that would be energetically cheap, environmentally friendly and could be used to obtain oxygen both for human consumption and to fuel surface operations.

Keywords

hazardsISRUMarsoxygenperchlorate (ClO4−)
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Astrobiology , Volume 12 , Issue 4 , October 2013 , pp. 321 - 325
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (2008). Toxicological Profile for PERCHLORATES. US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Atlanta, GA.Google Scholar
Brown, G.M. & Gu, B. (2006). The chemistry of perchlorate in the environment. In: The Ecotoxicology of Perchlorate in the Environment. In: Perchlorate, Environmental Occurrence, Interactions and Treatment, ed. Gu, B. & Coates, J.D.Springer, New York, p 17–47.Google Scholar
Catling, D.C., Claire, M.W., Zahnle, K.J., Quinn, R.C., Clark, B.C., Hecht, H. & Kounaves, S. (2010). Atmospheric origins of perchlorate on Mars and in the Atacama. J. Geophys. Res. 115. DOI: 10.1029/2009JE003425.Google Scholar
Coates, J.D. & Achenbach, L.A. (2004). Microbial perchlorate reduction: rocket-fuelled metabolism. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 2, 569–580.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Coates, J.D. & Achenbach, L.A. (2006). The microbiology of perchlorate reduction and its bioremediative applications. In: Perchlorate, Environmental Occurrence, Interactions and Treatment. ed. Gu, B. & Coates, J.D.Springer, New York, p 279–295.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Glavin, D.P. et al. (2013). Investigating the origin of chlorinated hydrocarbons detected by SAM at Rocknest: evidence for perchlorates in Gale Crater. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference; 18-22 March 2013; The Woodlands, TX; United States.Google Scholar
Ha, W., Suarez, D.L. & Lesch, S.M. (2011). Perchlorate uptake in spinach as related to perchlorate, nitrate, and chloride cocnntrations in irrigation water. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45, 9363–9371.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hecht, M.H. et al. (2009). Detection of perchlorate and the soluble chemistry of Martian soil at the Phoenix Lander Site. Science 325, 64–67.Google Scholar
Keller, J.M. et al. (2006). Equatorial and midlatitude distribution of chlorine measured by Mars Odyssey GRS, JGR, 111, E03S08, doi:10.1029/2006JE002679CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MEPAG (2010). Mars Scientific Goals, Objectives, Investigations, and Priorities. Johnson, J.R., ed. p. 49. white paper posted September, 2010 by the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) at http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/reports/index.html.Google Scholar
Navarro-González, R., Vargas, E., de la Rosa, J., Raga, A. C. & McKay, C. P. (2010). Reanalysis of the Viking results suggests perchlorate and organics at midlatitudes on Mars. JGR 115, E12010. doi:10.1029/2010JE003599.Google Scholar
Navarro-Gonzalez, R. et al. (2013). Possible detection of perchlorates by the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument: Comparison with previous missions. Geophysical Research Abstracts 15, EGU2013-6529, EGU General Assembly 2013.Google Scholar
Quinn, R.C., Martucci, H. F. H., Miller, S. R., Bryson, C. E., Grunthaner, F. J. & Grunthaner, P. J. (2013). Perchlorate radiolysis on Mars and the origin of the Martian Soil Reactivity, Astrobiology 13(6).Google Scholar
Rennó, N.O. et al. (2009). Possible physical and thermodynamical evidence for liquid water on the phoenix landing site. GRL 114, E00E03. doi:10.1029/2009JE003362.Google Scholar
Smith, P.N. (2006). The ecotoxicology of perchlorate in the environment. In: Perchlorate, Environmental Occurrence, Interactions and Treatment. ed. Gu, B. & Coates, J.D.Springer, New York.Google Scholar
Xie, Y., Fan, G., Dai, J. & Song, X. (2007). New respiratory dust suppression systems for coal mines. J China Univ. Mining Technol. 17(3), 0321–0325.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zorzano, M.P., Mateo-Martí, E., Prieto Ballesteros, O., Osuna, S. & Renno, N. (2009). Stability of liquid saline water on present day Mars. GRL 36, L20201. doi:10.1029/2009GL040315.Google Scholar