TY - JOUR
T1 - Development of a gravity-independent wastewater bioprocessor for advanced life support in space
AU - Nashashibi-Rabah, Majda
AU - Christodoulatos, Christos
AU - Korfiatis, George P.
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - Operation of aerobic biological reactors in space is controlled by a number of challenging constraints, mainly stemming from mass transfer limitations and phase separation. Immobilized-cell packed-bed bioreactors, specially designed to function in the absence of gravity, offer a viable solution for the treatment of gray water generated in space stations and spacecrafts. A novel gravity-independent wastewater biological processor, capable of carbon oxidation and nitrification of high-strength aqueous waste streams, is presented. The system, consisting of a fully saturated pressurized packed bed and a membrane oxygenation module attached to an external recirculation loop, operated continuously for over one year. The system attained high carbon oxidation efficiencies often exceeding 90% and ammonia oxidation reaching approximately 60%. The oxygen supply module relies on hydrophobic, nonporous, oxygen selective membranes, in a shell and tube configuration, for transferring oxygen to the packed bed, while keeping the gaseous and liquid phases separated. This reactor configuration and operating mode render the system gravity-independent and suitable for space applications. Water Environ. Res., 77, 138 (2005).
AB - Operation of aerobic biological reactors in space is controlled by a number of challenging constraints, mainly stemming from mass transfer limitations and phase separation. Immobilized-cell packed-bed bioreactors, specially designed to function in the absence of gravity, offer a viable solution for the treatment of gray water generated in space stations and spacecrafts. A novel gravity-independent wastewater biological processor, capable of carbon oxidation and nitrification of high-strength aqueous waste streams, is presented. The system, consisting of a fully saturated pressurized packed bed and a membrane oxygenation module attached to an external recirculation loop, operated continuously for over one year. The system attained high carbon oxidation efficiencies often exceeding 90% and ammonia oxidation reaching approximately 60%. The oxygen supply module relies on hydrophobic, nonporous, oxygen selective membranes, in a shell and tube configuration, for transferring oxygen to the packed bed, while keeping the gaseous and liquid phases separated. This reactor configuration and operating mode render the system gravity-independent and suitable for space applications. Water Environ. Res., 77, 138 (2005).
KW - Attached growth
KW - Gray water
KW - Membrane oxygenation
KW - Microgravity
KW - Pressurized bioreactor
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U2 - 10.2175/106143005X41708
DO - 10.2175/106143005X41708
M3 - Article
C2 - 15816677
AN - SCOPUS:14944370633
SN - 1061-4303
VL - 77
SP - 138
EP - 145
JO - Water Environment Research
JF - Water Environment Research
IS - 2
ER -