NASA EPSCoR: Development of Nanoporous Adsorbents for Aqueous Phase Separations in Life Support Systems

Water reclamation and proper inventory and supply of medications are all crucial for NASA space missions, particularly for the long–term ones. Reclaiming water in portable and closed-volume applications is certainly not an easy task, particularly in space missions where weight and volume limitations are stringent. Reclaiming in a closed-loop environment also brings challenges associated to achieving high purity water, particularly when taking into account siloxane based problematic compounds (PCs). The implementation of this research project will lead to innovative adsorbents for aqueous phase treatments that will be developed through a comprehensive, synergistic computational-experimental-engineering design strategy and will enable new technology for NASA Life Support systems. The new adsorbents will efficiently (i) remove PCs in the form of siloxanes that arise from crew hygiene products, adhesives, caulks, lubricants, various nonmetallic materials and reactions at Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) of the International Space Station (ISS), and (ii) recover medications (MCs), such as those based on N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, produced by NASA’s Synthetic Drug Synthesis Systems (SDSS) prototypes. The overall goal is to produce novel adsorbent materials with superior selectivity toward PCs and MCs at ambient temperature with minimal physical volume requirements. Hence, the results of this research and development effort will enhance NASA’s capabilities for long-term exploration missions, specifically those related to human life support and in situ resource utilization. The specific objectives include: (i) screening adsorption material surfaces based on anchored transition metals (Co, Ni, Cu or Zn) for weak complexation and enhanced, electrostatic interactions, and predictions of PC and MC adsorption loadings and energy via periodic boundary conditions calculations, and using quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics methods; (ii) synthesis and characterization of nanoporous adsorbents and composite adsorbents based on the theoretical/computational work output; (iii) performing single component batch and dynamic adsorption experimental tests to provide feedback to the computational component; (iv) developing testbeds in collaboration with NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) and Ames Research Center (ARC) for adsorbent particle mechanical tests and small scale multicomponent adsorption tests, including processing of ISS Water Processor Assembly (WPA) and SDSS representative effluents containing PCs or MCs and other unavoidable background contaminants or competitive adsorbates (TRL 1-3). The siloxane-based contaminants targeted in this proposal are inherent to the ISS infrastructure and are not effectively removed by the ISS WPA and UPA. Moreover, the administration of medicines to space crew during space missions is essential for success. Although systems like the SDSS are still prototypes, the underlying principles are critical to elucidate the best possible way to provide space crew with the tools necessary to achieve feasible onboard production of medications, particularly those that would be deemed with short life spans. The deliverables anticipated from this project will also find important terrestrial applications. Efficient water treatment and reclamation methods are of utmost necessity to deal with potable water scarcity while the ever increasing number of epidemic diseases, particularly in remote areas with little or no resources, mandates the development portable synthesis systems for onsite medication production.

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.