Regenerable Sorbent for Combined CO2, Water, and Trace-Contaminant Capture in the Primary Life Support System (PLSS)

The NASA objective of expanding the human experience into the far reaches of space requires the development of regenerable life support systems. This proposal addresses the development of an integrated air-revitalization system for the space suit used in Extravehicular Activities (EVAs). The proposed innovations are: (1) a single CO2, H2O, and trace-contaminant management unit; (2) a single sorbent possessing the capability to remove CO2, H2O, and trace contaminants; (3) monolithic sorption unit to provide the following functions: (a) CO2 sorbent; (b) H2O sorbent; (c) trace-contaminants sorbent; (d) low pressure drop; (e) good thermal management (heat transfer and low heat of adsorption); (f) resistance to dusty environments; and (4) regenerable operation. The overall objective is to develop a CO2/H2O/trace-contaminant removal system that is regenerable and that possesses weight, size, and power-requirement advantages over the current state of the art. The Phase 1 objectives are: (1) to demonstrate the technical feasibility of using a novel CO2 sorbent; and (2) to demonstrate effective CO2, H2O, and ammonia sorption and regeneration. This will be accomplished in three tasks: (1) Sorbent Preparation and Characterization; (2) Sorbent Testing; and (3) Product Assessment.