This study applies gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GCMS) to analyze volatile and pyrolysis-derived organic compounds released from activated-carbon filter sample OREX-103001-73. These samples represent processed filter materials collected for assessment of organic contamination backgrounds. Each sample was analyzed using thermal desorption at 200 C and pyrolysis at 600 C to characterize the distribution of weakly bound volatiles and thermally generated decomposition products. Sample preparation involved isolating activated-carbon fragments, weighing approximately 5 mg, and loading them into prebaked quartz tubes packed with combusted quartz wool. A Frontier Lab microfurnace pyrolyzer interfaced to an Agilent GCMS system was used for all analyses. The thermal desorption runs primarily released low-molecular-weight hydrocarbons and oxygenated volatiles, while pyrolysis generated a broader suite of decomposition products, including small hydrocarbons, aromatics, and nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygenbearing compounds. Blank tube and wool controls were included to distinguish sample derived peaks from background contributions. No additional sample splits were created during the study; OREX-103001-73 sample was treated as an independent analytical unit. The results demonstrate that activated-carbon filters contain measurable organic residues and generate characteristic pyrolysis products upon heating. These findings support evaluation of contamination sources and provide a baseline for interpreting organic signatures released from filter-based collection materials under thermal processing conditions.

This research is funded by NASA grant 80NSSC22K1691 and under Contract NNM10AA11C issued through the New Frontiers Program.

GC-MS analysis of thermal-desorption and pyrolysis products from activated-carbon filter sample OREX-103001-73

This dataset contains X-ray computed tomography images, videos, and metadata for Bennu particle OREX-800202-0 as part of the OSIRIS-REx mission

X-ray CT data for Bennu particle OREX-800202-0

This dataset contains X-ray computed tomography images, videos, and metadata for Bennu particle OREX-800201-0 as part of the OSIRIS-REx mission

X-ray CT data for Bennu particle OREX-800201-0

This dataset contains X-ray computed tomography images, videos, and metadata for Bennu particle OREX-800191-0 as part of the OSIRIS-REx mission

X-ray CT data for Bennu particle OREX-800191-0

This dataset contains X-ray computed tomography images, videos, and metadata for Bennu particle OREX-800185-0 as part of the OSIRIS-REx mission

X-ray CT data for Bennu particle OREX-800185-0

This dataset contains X-ray computed tomography images, videos, and metadata for Bennu particle OREX-800184-0 as part of the OSIRIS-REx mission

X-ray CT data for Bennu particle OREX-800184-0

This dataset contains X-ray computed tomography images, videos, and metadata for Bennu particle OREX-800161-0 as part of the OSIRIS-REx mission

X-ray CT data for Bennu particle OREX-800161-0

This dataset contains X-ray computed tomography images, videos, and metadata for Bennu particle OREX-800136-0 as part of the OSIRIS-REx mission

X-ray CT data for Bennu particle OREX-800136-0

This dataset contains X-ray computed tomography images, videos, and metadata for Bennu particle OREX-800106-0 as part of the OSIRIS-REx mission

X-ray CT data for Bennu particle OREX-800106-0

This dataset contains X-ray computed tomography images, videos, and metadata for Bennu particle OREX-800095-0 as part of the OSIRIS-REx mission

X-ray CT data for Bennu particle OREX-800095-0

This bundle contains data from the pyrolysis GC-MS analysis of the SRC filter; ~0.5 mg of powder was loaded into quartz cups and pyrolyzed at ~600 C using a full scan (m/z 50 - 500) method.

This material is supported by NASA under contract NNM10AA11C issued through the New Frontiers program.

Analysis of SRC filter material OREX-103001-118

Analysis of SRC filter material OREX-103001-116

Analysis of SRC filter material OREX-103001-114

An Atomic Force Microscope (Park NX10) has been used to measure surface height (Z) and thermal conductivity variations of a sample OREX-800055-9. Images are created using Conductivity Contrast Mode. Measured forward current is proportional to sample thermal conductivity.

This material is supported by NASA under contract NNM10AA11C issued through the New Frontiers program. Additional funding provided by the Canadian Space Agency to support researchers Daly, Freemantle and Wilson.

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