FY18 IRTD Sodium Removal from Waste Brines to Generate Plant Fertilizer

A thermal swing process to separate Sodium Chloride (NaCl) from other salts in wastewater for use as plant fertilizer was examined. The initial proof of concept tests showed that the thermal swing process is a promising approach for NaCl reduction from wastewater. Several tasks have been planned for further development:

1. To improve the product purity, better process control is needed. This can be achieved by considering ion interactions (common ion effect) to improve the process modeling.
2. To improve the total product recovery, the hot filtration setup should be further modified to reduce mass loss (water loss through vapor under vacuum and salt loss associated with the water loss).
3. Conduct the proof of concept tests using a more realistic brine analog.

In order to control the process parameters more preciously and reproducibly, it would be beneficial to use an automated test stand that is capable of thermal control and mass transfer tasks. The initial temperature control testing is completed, while some functional testing is undergoing and yet to be completed.

Provide pure NaCl for crew, water, and balance mixture of inorganic nutrients with minimal NaCl, suitable as plant fertilizer.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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.

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