The baseline design of nasa's space station includes a shower facility for the use of the crew. a key component of the facility is a hose and nozzle which is used to remove water from the astronaut's body and the shower wall. three problems have been identified for which solutions are proposed: hair… More

The baseline design of nasa's space station includes a clothes laundry facility. a significant task that has not been accomplished is the development of a cleansing agent that will fulfill the requirements of the laundry and also be compatible with the existing cleansing agents developed for the… More

Reverse osmosis and conventional sorption methods are not effective at efficiently removing some contaminants from waste streams. examples of such contaminants are ethanol, methanol, and urea. specific enzymes exist which will catalyze reactions to convert these contaminants to compounds which are… More

Current treatment methods such as phase change, sorption and membrane separation techniques do not remove low molecular weight polar organic molecules such as alcohols, ketones and amides. a catalytic oxidation method using molecular oxygen is proposed that will oxidize these types of molecules to… More

The potable water system on the space shuttle uses a microbial check valve (mcv) as a biocide generator. the mcv is a replaceable cartridge that is packed with a specialiodinated ion exchange resin. this resin contains iodine which is released into the water as it passes through the resin at a level… More

The baseline design of nasa's space station includes a clothes laundry facility. foaming and air entrainment in the microgravity of space cause serious materials handling problems. antifoams add contaminants that must be removed in the water reclamation system. phase separators add additional weight… More

A number of space station systems utilize air streams to transport materials or for ventilation. a requirement exists for a light weight, low power, regenerable air purification system for the removal of trace contaminants before these streams are returned to the cabin. these contaminants include a… More

The proposed separator provides a novel method for removal of inorganic carbon (ic) from solution prior to organic carbon analysis. it is suited for extended operation in microgravity, as it does not require the addition of liquid reagents nor purge gases for inorganic carbon removal. the device… More

In this concept, organic impurities are removed by electrolysis; inorganic impurities by electrodialysis. in previous work a problem was caused by the relative insolubility of potassium perchlorate, which precipitated within the electrodialysis membranes causing them to cease functioning. efforts… More

The feasibility of a simple atmospheric carbon dioxide (co2) sensor for oceanographic deployment will be explored in this phase i project. three basic steps are required for sensor operation: membrane equilibration of gaseous and aqueous co2, chemical amplification of the concentration of the… More

The proposed Fiber-Optic Chemiluminescent Biosensor concept forms the basis for the development of a new class of light weight, small, low power, inexpensive robust, accurate and extremely sensitive sensors which can be applied to various analytical requirements within the aerospace biomedical,… More

An investigation of the efficacy of low temperature aqueous phase catalytic oxidation for the destruction of organic water pollutants of significance to the U.S. Armed Forces is proposed. It has been shown in our laboratory that organic contaminants can be mineralized in the aqueous phase using… More

A device is proposed for the production of intravenous fluids from potable water aboard U.S. Navy ships. Central to the operation of the device is a method for the purification and sterilization of water which couples filtration, sorption and membrane based water purification unit processes with… More

An innovative pathway toward the synthesis of thin film and bulk thermoelectric materials based on skutterudite structures is proposed. Filled skutterudites possess large unit cell sizes, low electrical resistivities, and encaged rare earth atoms which will rattle in their oversized environment … More

Not Available k Technology Corporation (kTC) proposes to develop a high conductivity (>1000 W/mK), low density (

The removal of sub-micron sized particles from an aqueous stream based on electrostatic attraction is proposed. The system will remove suspended particles from a gas-water-solid mixture with minimal flow restrictions. This is particularly important for the removal of fine alumina particles in the… More

The development of robust membrane oxygenation systems for microgravity and hypogravity compatible dissolution of oxygen into flowing water streams such as Biological Water Processor feed or recycle is proposed. Multiphase gas-liquid flow through catalyst particles or cells immobilized on solid… More

A portable water purification system based upon an innovative ambient temperature mesoporous catalyst is proposed. This system will oxidize aqueous organic contaminants during transfer from storage to the point of use. Ion exchange media can be added as needed to remove ionic contaminants.… More

The removal of sub-micron sized particles from an aqueous stream based on electrostatic attraction is proposed. The system will remove suspended particles from a gas-water-solid mixture with minimal flow restrictions. This is particularly important for the removal of fine alumina particles in the… More

The removal of sub-micron sized particles from an aqueous stream based on electrostatic attraction is proposed. The system will remove suspended particles from a gas-water-solid mixture with minimal flow restrictions. This is particularly important for the removal of fine alumina particles in the… More

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project proposes development of a magnetically controlled and microwave powered fluidized bed reactor, incorporating three primary innovations: [1] highly energy efficient waveguide-based microwave transmission and irradiation of fluidized… More

Innovative ambient temperature oxidation catalysts based upon transition metal containing mesoporous supports are proposed. The self-assembly of amphiphilic surfactants, co-solvents, and oxide network formers is utilized to produce monolithic gels that can be readily converted to amorphous… More

A Microwave Powered Solid Waste Stabilization (MPSWS) system is proposed as the primary step in the treatment of solid waste materials generated during extended manned space missions. The proposed system will recover water initially contained within the wastes and stabilize the residue with respect… More

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a continuous heterogeneous catalytic peroxidation process for destruction of aqueous organic and inorganic heterogeneous contaminants. Fenton peroxidation with Fe (II) as a homogeneous catalyst is used extensively for the… More

Advanced development of mesoporous catalysts for ambient temperature oxidation of dissolved organic contaminants is proposed. Mesoporous materials consist of highly ordered three-dimensional structures with precisely controlled pore size distributions, relatively high surface areas, and surface… More

A Microwave Powered Solid Waste Stabilization and Water Recovery system is proposed as the primary step in the treatment of solid waste materials generated during extended manned space missions. The system will recover water initially contained within wastes and stabilize the residue with respect to… More

Development of technology for Microwave Enhanced Freeze Drying of Solid Waste (MEFDSW) is proposed. The present state of the art for solid waste stabilization using lyophilization is very effective at removing water (up to 99.9%), but suffers from long processing times and high specific energy,… More

An electrochemical cell is proposed for the efficient generation of 3% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in pure water using only power, oxygen and water. H2O2 is an attractive biocide for space-based missions, because no harmful chemical residues are produced, yet planktonic, biofilm-forming, and surface… More

The development of advanced methods for Microwave Enhanced Freeze Drying of Solid Waste (MEFDSW) is proposed. Methods for the recovery of relatively pure water as a byproduct of freeze drying will also be fully developed. The Phase II project will result in the design, assembly, thorough testing,… More

Volume reduction is a critical element of Solid Waste Management for manned spacecraft and planetary habitations. To this end, a Heat Melt Compaction System is under development at Ames Research Center. During the heating process, certain volatile organic vapors are produced. Here we propose the… More

Future Exploration Initiative missions will require substantial reductions in ESM for water processing hardware. Significant reductions can be achieved using water treatment systems based upon thermally regenerable ion-exchange (TRIX) resins. Ion-exchange (IX) has been the preferred method for… More

Development of a microgravity and hypogravity compatible catalytic methane pyrolysis reactor is proposed to recover hydrogen which is lost as methane in the conversion of carbon dioxide to water via the Sabatier process. This will close the hydrogen loop which currently requires 50% resupply and… More

Several solid waste management systems currently under development result in the production of gas-phase organic contaminants which, due to the periodic and unpredictable nature of solid wastes and contaminants produced by these systems, cannot be treated by the Trace Contaminant Control System. … More

Development of a microgravity and hypogravity compatible catalytic methane pyrolysis reactor is proposed to recover hydrogen which is lost as methane in the conversion of carbon dioxide to water via the Sabatier process. This will close the hydrogen loop which currently requires 50% resupply and… More

An innovative microgravity and hypogravity compatible Gas-Liquid Separator (GLS) is proposed. This novel GLS consists of an ordered array of variable sized water repellant granular particles that result in a spatial surface energy density gradient within the GLS. The resultant capillary pressure… More

An innovative microwave system is proposed for the continuous production of medical grade water. This system will utilize direct absorption of microwave radiation to rapidly heat potable water well above normal autoclave conditions, achieving equivalent microbial lethality in much shorter times.… More

Development of a microgravity and hypogravity compatible Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) Plasma Methane Pyrolysis Reactor is proposed to recover hydrogen which is lost as methane in the conversion of carbon dioxide to water via the Sabatier process. This will close the hydrogen loop which… More

Development of an innovative microwave-based continuous flow sterilization system for the energy efficient gravitationally independent production of Medical Grade Water (MGW) is proposed. During the Phase I, microwaves were very efficiently coupled to a single-phase flowing water stream using an… More

Development of a microgravity and hypogravity compatible microwave plasma methane pyrolysis reactor is proposed to recover hydrogen which is lost as methane in the conversion of carbon dioxide to water via the Sabatier process. This will close the hydrogen loop which currently requires 50%… More

A novel urine pretreatment that will prevent biological growth or chemical instabilities in urine without using hazardous chemicals is proposed. Untreated urine fosters biological growth, ammonia generation, creation of bio-solids, and inorganic precipitates, which foul water and air reclamation… More

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will develop a microreactor system for formation of hydrogen peroxide in water by direct catalytic reaction of oxygen and hydrogen. This approach will overcome limitations that exist in current direct processes, which are not… More

A nonhazardous urine pretreatment system prototype is proposed that will stabilize urine against biological growth or chemical instabilities without using hazardous chemicals. Untreated urine fosters biological growth, ammonia off-gassing, creation of bio-solids, and inorganic precipitates, which… More

Recovery of water from brine is critically important for manned space exploration. Resupply of water is prohibitively costly for extended missions. It is anticipated that NASA will pool urine, hygiene water and humidity condensate into a combined waste stream that will subsequently be concentrated… More

Effective methods are needed to control pervasive Lunar Dust within spacecraft and surface habitations. Once inside, airborne transmission is the primary mode of dispersion. Inhalation of this fine powder may pose a serious health risk. Lunar dust may cause degradation of materials, interfere with… More

Recovery of water from brine is critically important for future manned space exploration. Resupply of water is prohibitively costly for such extended missions. Water reclamation processes typically recover 90-95% of the water present in wastewater formed by combining urine, hygiene water, and… More

The use of combinatorial methods is proposed to rapidly screen catalyst formulations for the advanced development of aqueous phase oxidation catalysts with greater activity than current catalysts at temperatures less than 100

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project proposes to develop highly active heterogeneous catalyst coatings for microreactors to reduce biodiesel production and environmental costs. This effort will improve biodiesel's economic competitiveness and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.… More

Combinatorial methods are proposed to develop advanced Aqueous Oxidation Catalysts (AOCs) with the capability to mineralize organic contaminants present in effluents from current and future primary wastewater treatment processes at temperatures less than 70Â?aC, pressures below 20 psig, and contact… More

A microgravity-compatible Advanced Air Evaporation System (AAES) is proposed for recovering nearly 100% of water from highly contaminated wastewater without concern for precipitation of organic and inorganic solids. The AAES incorporates reusable wicks, and heat exchange and thermoelectric heat… More

Plasma catalytic techniques are proposed for the extraction of oxygen from the abundant carbon dioxide contained in the Martian atmosphere (95% CO2).. The Phase I project will clearly demonstrate the feasibility of achieving these goals by focussing on key aspects of the technology, such as… More

Oxygen (O2) contained within waste carbon dioxide (CO2) is a vital resource during long-duration, manned missions that must be reclaimed by Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) hardware. Current CO2 reduction technology to recapture oxygen as water utilizes the Sabatier reaction,… More

Volume reduction is a critical element of Solid Waste Management for manned spacecraft and planetary habitations. To this end, the proposed fecal waste incinerator may be utilized to completely mineralize feces to harmless inorganic substances such as CO2 and water. These products may then be… More

The Advanced Microgravity Compatible, Integrated Laundry (AMCIL) is a microgravity compatible liquid / liquid vapor, two-phase laundry system with water jet agitation and vacuum assisted drying. Umpqua Research Company previously developed a complete microgravity compatible Single Phase Laundry… More

An innovative Microchannel Sabatier Reactor System (MSRS) is proposed for 100% recovery of oxygen (as water) and methane from carbon dioxide (CO2), a valuable in situ resource available in the atmosphere or as frozen deposits on Mars and other Near Earth Objects (NEOs), using hydrogen. The Sabatier… More