Flow-through Sub-surface Reactors

Parr Flow Through Reactor

The AstrobiologyOU flow-through reactors are used to study both abiotic and biotic processes within the sub-surface environments of Mars and the icy moons, for example Europa and Enceladus. The flow-through capability allows fluid to continuous flow into the reactor, mimicking an open system, which is more realistic to the natural environment.

Description

The two reactors have been developed to study: 1) the martian sub-surface (MMS reactor); and 2) the ocean floor of the Icy Moons, e.g., Europa and Enceladus (IM reactor). The reactors can be run in dynamic (flow-through) or static mode with variable water-to-rock ratios. The overall set-up of the two systems is identical and involves a high-pressure reactor (Parr Instrument Company, UK) connected to a fluid cycling system and gas inlet, housed within a heating jacket. Abiotic and biotic experiments are routinely run in parallel, with microorganisms added to simulate biotic processes. For more information about the facilities see Olsson-Francis et al., (2020).

Specification

The standard specifications of both the martian sub-surface (MSS reactor) and the ocean floor of the icy moons (IM reactor) are shown below:

	MSS reactor	IM reactor
Specification of the reactor
Model	4566-T-FMD1(HC)-HC-230-VS.125-3000-4848-A1925E4-CE(PED)	4545-T-FMD1-SS-230-VS.125-WJ-5000-A2110E-CE(PED)
Volume	300 ml	600 ml
Composition	Alloy C276 /316 SS	T316 Stainless Steel
Max and min temperature	Ambient to 350 °C	-20 to + 150 °C^a
Max and min pressure	0 to 6.9 MPa	0 to 34.5 MPa
Gas headspace
Composition	10% CO₂ 40% H₂ 50% N₂	10% CO₂ 40% H₂ 50% N₂
Regulator	Air Products R302	Druva SS/1G SE(N6)
Tubing
Composition	Polyetherketone /Alloy C276 /316 SS	Polyetherketone/316 SS

^a Depending on the pressure

For more information, please read:

Olsson-Francis, K.; Ramkissoon, N. K.; Macey, M.; Pearson, V. K.; Schwenzer, S. P. and Johnson, D. N. (2020). Simulating microbial processes in extraterrestrial, aqueous environments. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 172, article no. 105883. Available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mimet.2020.105883

Ramkissoon, N. K., Macey, M. C., Kucukkilic-Stephens, E., Barton, T., Steele, A., Johnson, D. N., Stephens, B. P., Schwenzer, S. P., Pearson, V. K., and Olsson-Francis, K. (2024) Experimental Identification of Potential Martian Biosignatures in Open and Closed Systems. Astrobiology (early access). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2023.0013