Multi-layer Microfluidic Devices for Amino Acid Analysis: the Mars Organic Analyzer

Sensitive amino acid composition and chirality analysis is demonstrated using the Mars Organic Analyzer (MOA), a portable microfabricated capillary electrophoresis (CE) instrument. The MOA integrates all high voltage power supplie s, pneumatic controls, and fluorescence detection optics. The microfabricated device is a novel multi-layer structure combining glass separation channels [1] and microfabricated pneumatic membrane valves and pumps [2]. The Mars Organic Analyzer has been successfully field tested demonstrating part-per-trillion sensitivity when analyzing jarosite, a key sulfate-rich mineral recently detected on Mars that is associated with liquid water [3].