Sample Pre-Processing Instrument for Chemical Exploration (SPICE)

In this Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase II effort, Leiden Measurement Technology (LMT) will build a Sample Pre-processing Instrument for Chemical Explorationnbsp;(SPICE), an automated sample pre-processing module capable of efficiently extracting chemical analytes from solid samples for delivery to analytical instruments. SPICEnbsp; will work in conjunction with a number of in-situ analytical instruments, meeting the needs of a large variety of customers, including NASA. More specifically, (SPICE)nbsp;consists of an ultrasonic sample chamber that can be operated in two different modes: (1) A static mode for mixing and homogenizing the sample, and (2) a dynamic mode that flows solvent (e.g., water) through the ultrasonic chamber during sonication to avoid the re-adsorption of the analytes to the solid surfaces. This second mode is useful for extracting the maximum amount of analyte from the solid sample with a reported increase in extraction efficiency of up to 70 %. Where traditional extraction from soil/mineral samples mostly involves the removal of organics from the exposed surface, ultrasonic acoustic energy can be used to rupture small particles and break apart aggregates to expose inner surfaces that can trap chemicals of interest. The increased efficiency that can be achieved with ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE) is a technology that supports high precision in-situ measurements, as called out in subtopic S1.07 (In Situ Instruments/Technologies for Lunar and Planetary Science) of the NASA SBIR call.nbsp;