Fluorescence spectroscopy for the detection of life in the Salten Skov Mars regolith analogue

We have performed fluorescence spectroscopic analyses of the amino acid content of the Mars soil analog Salten Skov and of an amino acid standard mixture with the same amino acid abundance and distribution as the soil. This is the first study that investigates the total amino acid abundance of a Mars soil analog with a spectrofluorometer and correlates it with the results obtained from other analytical techniques. We discuss the variations between the fluorescence spectra of the Salten Skov soil sample and the amino acid standard mixture, and the differences between the Salten Skov hydrolyzed and non-hydrolyzed sample fractions. We also discuss the advantages and limitations of fluorescence spectroscopy in the context of future life detection missions.

► We studied the amino acid content of the Salten Skov soil with spectrofluorometry. ► The fluorescence intensity of the hydrolyzed portion is 83% of the non-hydrolyzed. ► The fluorescence maxima occur between 480 and 490 nm. ► An amino acid standard was produced to mimic the abundances of the soil sample. ► The intensity of the amino acid standard is higher than the soil equivalent.