Regenerable Trace-Contaminant Sorbent for the Primary Life Support System (PLSS), Phase I

The NASA objective of expanding the human experience into the far reaches of space requires the development of regenerable life support systems. This proposal addresses the development of a regenerable air-revitalization system for trace-contaminant (TC) removal for the space suit used in Extravehicular Activities (EVAs). The proposed innovations are: (1) a carbon monolith sorbent, in contrast to the currently used bed of granular charcoal; (2) carbon pore structure tailored for optimal vacuum/thermal regeneration; (3) resistive heating of the carbon monolith for rapid regeneration; (4) low pressure drop; and (5) good resistance to dusty environments. The overall objective is to develop a trace-contaminant control system that is regenerable and that possesses substantial weight, size, and power-requirement advantages with respect to the current state of the art. The Phase 1 objectives are: (1) to demonstrate the technical feasibility of using a novel monolithic carbon sorbent for trace-contaminant control; and (2) to demonstrate effective ammonia capture and sorbent regeneration. This will be accomplished in three tasks: (1) Preparation and Characterization of Carbon-Sorbent Monoliths; (2) Sorbent Testing; and (3) Product Assessment. More »