4. Processing of organic residues

Muñoz, Schutte and Greenberg studied the chemical properties of the organic residues created by the irradiation of interstellar ice analogs. The goal of this research is to provide laboratory experimental data related to the ESA-Rosetta mission on the study of organic components in the nucleus of comet Wirtanen. The samples were analyzed by Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry at the Univ. of Amsterdam and by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry at the Univ. of Bremen. Components were detected with masses 154, 156, 170 and 182 a.m.u., corresponding to Hexamethylene tetramine (HMT) (C₆H₁₂N₄) with different radicals attached to it, most likely Methyl-HMT, Hydroxy-HMT, CH₂OH-HMT and Acetaldehyd-HMT. These results have important implications for the search parameters that are needed to investigate the composition of comets.