Compact, Long-lasting Hydrogen Peroxide Generator of Enhanced Stability

NASA plans to return crews to the lunar surface and other space missions require addressing environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) challenges, including innovative solutions to provide adequate disinfection, cleaning, and wastewater stabilization. Multiple studies have demonstrated the disinfecting capabilities and wastewater stabilization provided by aqueous solutions of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). However, for crewed space missions, storing the required H2O2 is a space burden and a safety hazard, with high launching cost. The alternative of resupplying H2O2 is not only very expensive but prohibited for long-term crewed space missions. Thus, mission logistics can be significantly simplified by an on-demand H2O2 generation on location from on-board resources. The aim of this Phase I study is to demonstrate a compact, long-lasting single electrochemical cell operating continuously > 500 hours with a degradation of performance of <10%, capable of delivering high concentration of oxygen from air to the cathode compartment. The output H2O2 concentration can be dialed-in to produce >10 L/day of H2O2 aqueous solutions at H2O2 levels >100 mg/L, with an energy consumption of < 5kW-hr/day. It only requires air, water, and electricity for its operation. Since H2O2 decomposes to water and air, electricity is the only consumable.

The proposed compact, long-lasting, on-demand H2O2 generator has a direct use in NASA’s crewed space vehicles and lunar and planet habitats, including surface and equipment disinfection, disinfecting wipes (for personal and surface disinfection use), wastewater stabilization, microbial and total organic carbon (TOC) control in water recovery and potable water systems, as well as for heat exchanger biofouling remediation and laundry applications. This proposed technology can provide a compact, long-lasting on-demand electrochemical generation of aqueous solutions of H2O2, a versatile green oxidant that can be used in a wide range of applications, ranging from environmental remediation to portable sanitation to decontamination. This technology will be useful civilian and military first responders, and may also be applied to sterilize medical equipment, facilitate water treatment in remote locations, and decontamination of instrumentation and enclosed areas including aircraft, tanks, and buildings that have been contaminated by chemical agents or biological agents.

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.

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