Biological filters and their use in potable water filtration systems in spaceflight conditions

Publication date: May 2018Source: Life Sciences in Space Research, Volume 17Author(s): Starla G. Thornhill, Manish KumarAbstractProviding drinking water to space missions such as the International Space Station (ISS) is a costly requirement for human habitation. To limit the costs of water transport, wastewater is collected and purified using a variety of physical and chemical means. To date, sand-based biofilters have been designed to function against gravity, and biofilms have been shown to form in microgravity conditions. Development of a universal silver-recycling biological filter system that is able to function in both microgravity and full gravity conditions would reduce the costs incurred in removing organic contaminants from wastewater by limiting the energy and chemical inputs required. This paper aims to propose the use of a sand-substrate biofilter to replace chemical means of water purification on manned spaceflights.

Source: Life Sciences in Space Research - July 5, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research