Oxidants from Pulverized Minerals

1
Oxidants from Pulverized Minerals

• Dust on lunar and Martian surfaces might be
• Strongly oxidizing
• A biological hazard
• H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) might be an important
  oxidizer
• Could be produced by ground up soil reacting with
  water

Moon
Mars
2
Oxidants from Pulverized Minerals

• Experiments show that silicate mineral powders
  are highly reactive with water and produce H2O2
• The amount produced is related to silicate
  crystal structure
• Important implications for astronaut health on
  the Moon and Mars, and organic chemistry on
  Martian surface