Influence of magnesium perchlorate on the pyrolysis of organic compounds in Mars analogue soils

► Perchlorate is believed to combust putative Martian organics upon heating. ► We studied a reduced and an oxidized molecule (benzoic and mellitic acid). ► Despite perchlorate, it is possible to detect reduced organic species by pyrolysis. ► These studies prepare pyrolysis experiments onboard MSL (2011) and ExoMars (2018).