Developing a technique to enhance durability of fibrous ion-exchange resin substrate for space greenhouses

We describe a two-stage treatment of BIONA-V3TM including primary microwave heating of the used FIERS untill (90±5)°C in alkali-peroxide solution during 3.5 hrs. The second stage of the treatment is decomposition of root vestiges inside pores of BIONA-V3TM by using thermophilic and mesophilic anaerobic bacteria Clostridium thermocellum, Clostridium cellulolyticum and Cellulosilyticum lentocellum during 7-10 days at 55°C. The two-stage procedure allows extraction of 90% dead roots from the FIERS’ pores and the preservation of root zone hydro-physical properties. A posterior enrichment of the FIERS by minerals makes BIONA- V3TM reusable.
Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - Category: Biology Source Type: research