Apparatus for Cold, Pressurized Biogeochemical Experiments

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California

A laboratory apparatus has been devised as a means of studying plausible biogeochemical reactions under high-pressure, low-temperature aqueous, anaerobic conditions like those conjectured to prevail in a liquid water ocean on Europa (the fourth largest moon of the planet Jupiter). The experiments to be performed by use of this apparatus are intended to enhance understanding of how life (if any) could originate and evolve in the Europa ocean environment. Inasmuch as terrestrial barophilic, psychrophilic organisms that thrive under anaerobic conditions are used in the experiments, the experiments may also contribute to terrestrial biogeochemistry.

This Laboratory Apparatus is used to study biogeochemical reactions in liquid water at high pressure and low temperature. Bacterial specimens are loaded from the top of the vessel into sample cells equipped with 0.2-μm filters. The vessel is filled with water, air is vented from the top through a valve, and then the water is pressurized to 5 kpsi (≈34 MPa).

The apparatus (see figure) includes a bolt-closure reaction vessel secured inside a refrigerator that maintains a temperature of 4°C. Pressurized water is supplied to the interior of the vessel by a hydrostatic pump, which is attached to the vessel via high-pressure fittings.

The terrestrial organisms used in the experiments thus far have been several facultative barophilic, psychrophilic stains of Shewanella bacteria. In the experiments, these organisms have been tested for reduction of ferric ion

by growing them in the presence of a ferric food source under optimized terrestrial conditions. The short-term goal of these experiments has been to select Shewanella strains that exhibit iron-reduction capability and test their ability to facilitate biogeochemical reduction of iron under temperature and pressure conditions imitating those in Europa’s ocean. It is anticipated, that, once growth under Europa-like conditions has been achieved, the selected Shewanella strains will be used to facilitate biogeochemical reactions of sulfate and carbonate with hydrogen gas. Any disequilibrium of the products with the environment would be interpreted as signifying biogenic activity and the possibility of life in Europa’s ocean.

This work was done by Xenia Amashukeli, Robert T. Pappalardo, and Stephanie A. Connon of Caltech and Damhnait F. Gleeson of the University of Colorado for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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