Iodine Removal Hot Side

Mars Campaign Office (MCO) Life Support Systems project Wastewater Processing and Water Management projects develop technologies to collect, store and process wastewater as well as manage the water recovered. Within an integrated life support system, water recovery systems provide water for use by various environmental control and life support functions on board the spacecraft. These functions may include drinking water, food re-hydration, water for crew hygiene, flush water for the spacecraft urinal, source water for oxygen generation, and, depending on the complexity of the life support system, water for crew shower and laundry. The wastewater streams that return from these uses and require treatment to be returned back to a potable state can include stabilized urine and flush water, humidity condensate, shower and laundry grey water, and water from carbon dioxide and wet-trash processing systems. The purpose of the water recovery system is to close the water loop by removing the contaminants associated with the various wastewater streams and then returning the balance of clean water back to the potable water bus in a stabilized form suitable for storage and reuse.  

Iodine Removal Hot Side project is the development of technology to remove iodine from the hot side of the Potable Water System. This project is focused on the development of advanced water filtration media that has broad application for the efficient removal of water contaminants in spacecraft water systems.  It also considers re-engineering water system to reduce the water volumes that may not include a biocide.  Overall, this technology development will ensure the biocide disinfects a majority of the hot water portion of the potable water system while removing iodine prior to crew consumption.

This technology ensures iodine efficacy within the hot water portion of the dispenser as well as safe removal of the iodine prior to consumption. 

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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.