Controlled-Release Silver Biocide Device

A Phase IIE contract extension is proposed to introduce the design for a high-performance, silver ion-based water microbial purification device, and expand its capabilities to other reagents. Specifically, we will miniaturize and integrate the Smart Electroanalytical Multi-Sensor (SEMS®) and controlled-release silver ion antimicrobial dispenser functions in to a single, Smart Microbial Check Valve, termed SilverCharge™, that fits within the current iodine microbial check valve envelope. During SEMS® development, ELS expended substantial additional effort and expense to develop an AI-enabled electroanalytical platform that could be miniaturized and combined with highly efficient SPR® Solid Phase Reagent to produce highly adaptable device for longer duration space missions and The SilverCharge™ device can be configured to impart varying levels of antimicrobial, allowing a system design that responds to microbial data and contamination levels in near real time, as well as proactively react to potential system upsets. This new device will impart biocide and other desired reagents, measure biocidal concentrations, and possess the capability to proactively vary biocidal concentrations according to system needs, based on process data. Phase IIE will define the concept using silver ion, and we will also expand the device capability to at least one additional reagent/analyte, to be selected in consultation with NASA.

Phase IIE will finish the manufacture, functional integration and testing of a finished product at >TRL 5, which can then be expediently flight-qualified if Ag ion is baselined for future missions. For this very modest additional budget allocation, we can build these devices for test in prototype water recovery systems in ISS, HALO, commercial Space Stations. Artemis and Orion programs.

Extension applications throughout Department of Defense war-fighter support and logistics applications, industrial chemical process industries, pharmaceuticals, dental and medical facilities, and emergency response agencies.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.