Browsing by Author "Velez Justiniano, Yo-Ann"
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Item Analysis of CDC Bioreactor Internal Thermal Measurements and Sample Coupon Temperatures(2023 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2023-07-16) Beitle, Eric; Murphy, Connor; Velez Justiniano, Yo-Ann; Goeres, DarlaThe Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) bioreactor is an integral laboratory tool for the Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) biofilm formation and growth research program. Critical to this research is the need to adjust and maintain various surface temperatures of the coupons housed within the CDC Bioreactor. The purpose of this study was to provide quantitative temperature gradient information when the CDC Bioreactor was operating according to several process scenarios. Two primary process parameters were evaluated. For the first set of test parameters, the liquid level was maintained at 350 mL, with an inlet flowrate of 0.1 mL/min, 1 mL/min, 10 mL/min. The liquid was allowed to gravity drain out of the outlet spout. For the second set of test parameters, the liquid level within the reactor was maintained at 550 mL, with an inlet flow of 0.1 mL/min, 1 mL/min, 10mL/min and draining intermittently controlled to 0.8 mL/min to maintain the 550 mL level. Due to the placement of the thermocouple in the reactor, a difference in temperature occurred between the coupon surfaces and target Bioreactor temperature when operated according to the first set of test parameters. When the reactor was operated according to the second set of parameters, which resulted in the thermocouple being submerged, the temperature gradient was eliminated. The results demonstrated minimal temperature gradient between the top and bottom coupon surfaces for coupons placed in a single rod within the CDC Bioreactor for both sets of test parameters evaluated. The collection of this information helped to explain previous ECLSS biofilm formation test runs, along with providing guidance on best operating practices for future ECLSS experiments. The placement of the thermocouple also helps to explain the challenge of achieving and maintaining bulk liquid temperatures when biofilm is grown according to the standardized methods.Item Biofilm Management in a Microgravity Water Recovery System(50th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 7/12/2021) Velez Justiniano, Yo-Ann; Carter, Donald; Sandvik, Elizabeth; Stewart, Phil; Goeres, Darla; Sturman, Paul; Li, Wenyan; Johnson, Alexander; Cioanta, IulianBiofilm growth continues to be a significant concern for NASA�s current and future water systems. The International Space Station (ISS) Water Processor Assembly (WPA) produces potable water from a combination of humidity condensate and urine distillate. The WPA waste tank requires significant management to prevent biofilm growth from impacting downstream components. This issue is magnified for future NASA manned missions due to the need to place the vehicle�s life support system in a dormant state during uncrewed operations (e.g., when vehicle is in Mars orbit during surface mission). NASA personnel and the Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University are evaluating various methods for mitigating biofilm growth, including reduced nutrient levels, thermal treatment, ultrasonic treatment, and identifying effective biocides in this application. This paper provides an overview of the current status on this effort.Item CDC Bioreactor Configuration Method for Volume Level Control with Controlled Inlet and Outlet Flow(2023 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2023-07-16) Murphy, Connor; Beitle, Eric; Velez Justiniano, Yo-AnnEnvironmental Control Life Support Systems and other microbiological biofilm studies often utilize small scale bioreactors. Among these options are the popular BioSurface CDC bioreactors, currently being utilized by Marshall Space Flight Center groups researching the impact of biofilms on life support systems. After a recent experimental regime, it was determined additional equipment could be added to augment the capabilities of the bioreactors. Previous research configurations such as ASTM E3161 – 18 relied on an outlet stream gravity draining from a side drain port located above sampling coupons. This limited applications to experimental conditions with a controlled inlet and uncontrolled outlet flow. With the introduction of a small single pole single throw (SPST) reed float switch, a peristaltic pump connected to the outlet drain and a chassis controller, the bioreactor is able to maintain a set level. The modification allows additional variables to be tested, including highly adjustable fill and flush cycles, bioreactor volume, draining and filling control. Once the configuration modifications were implemented through the installation of the new equipment, data was collected to ensure the stability of the level measurements. As the level control switch is a float switch, consideration was taken into account for effects of internal stirring speed, along with effects of inlet and outlet flow rate. Data presented in this study will illustrate the stability and effectiveness of the configuration changes in equipment made to the bioreactor. These configuration changes are proving an effective control method to conduct biofilm mitigation techniques for ECLSS hardware research. The controlled level capabilities allow for a constant drip feed flow rate into the bioreactors, a key aspect of the biofilm mitigation testing.Item Characterization of Microbes Present in Purge Pump and Separator Assembly Ground Testing(2023 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2023-07-16) Saban, Kristen; Herrneckar, Peyton; Velez Justiniano, Yo-Ann; Long, David; Beitle, Eric R.Microbiology is a growing sector in the field of human spaceflight development. Microorganisms have been observed and studied on crewed missions and space stations. The presence of microbes has potentially detrimental effects on crew health and hardware structure and maintenance. These effects are especially present on flight hardware involved with human wastewater, such as the Water Recovery System (WRS) of the International Space Station (ISS). The Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) of the WRS was recently updated to include the Purge Pump and Separator Assembly (PPSA). The PPSA improves the purge capability and therefore overall performance of the UPA. This paper details microorganisms present within three PPSA pumps after ground testing. Ground microbial testing and decontamination are essential for preventing further system contamination during flight technology demonstrations. The microbial characterization from these pumps includes qualitative and quantitative descriptions of bacterial and fungal species present. DNA sequencing, genome assembly, and identification were performed using Nanopore MinION and KBase. All three sampled pumps showed microbial growth. Bacteria were identified in both the Burkholderia and Ralstonia genera. This work has implications for the viability of urine processor technology against biofouling for longer duration spaceflight missions where hardware replacement is infeasible.Item Developing a Multi-bioreactor Test Stand for the Evaluation of Biofilm Mitigation Technologies(50th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 7/12/2021) Velez Justiniano, Yo-Ann; Johnson, AlexanderLife support systems such as the one in the International Space Station (ISS) require maintenance and treatment to avoid biofouling and prevent system failure. In an effort to test multiple mitigation technologies at the same time for long periods of use, a connective test stand prepared with multiple CDC bioreactors has been assembled. Heating, nutrient filtration, and antimicrobial coatings are tested against commonly known organisms that have affected the ISS wastewater in previous times using fluorescent dyes and z-stack viewing. It is hypothesized that biofilms can be mitigated and tested via the aforementioned techniques.Item Development and Testing of a New Partial Gravity Urine Processor Design and Urine Pretreatment(2023 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2023-07-16) Caviglia, Colton; Williamson, Jill; Velez Justiniano, Yo-Ann; McCool, Chelsea; Cassilly, ChelsiThe Planetary Urine Processor (PUP) is a proposed urine distillation system for lunar or planetary applications, taking advantage of local gravity for phase separation as well as the movement and storage of waste feeds and product water. The PUP utilizes a stationary evaporator with an integrated disposable bag to process urine and capture remaining precipitates. This system aims to increase water reclamation percentage, reduce resource requirements, and enhance reliability/maintainability due to lower system complexity over the existing water recovery system used on the International Space Station (ISS). This paper focuses on the hardware development and testing efforts and the associated urine pretreatment development work.Item Long-Term Survival of Bacteria under Dormancy Conditions: A Preliminary Review(50th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 7/12/2021) Li, Wenyan; Diaz, Angie; Irwin, Tesia; Calle, Luz; Velez Justiniano, Yo-Ann; Angle, Geoffrey; Johnson, Alexander; Callahan, MichaelBiofilm mitigation and biomass control can be challenging in wastewater processing systems, such as those onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Understanding bacterial behavior, under dormancy conditions, becomes critical as mission duration extends and long periods of dormancy become an integral state of the wastewater system. The objective of this review on the current state of knowledge on the long-term starvation and survival behavior of bacteria is to provide a useful insight for the ongoing long-term bacterial dormancy studies.Item A Preliminary Modeling Study of Biofilm Accumulation in the Water Recovery System(2020 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2020-07-31) Diaz, Angie; Li, Wenyan; Irwin, Tesia; Calle, Luz; Angle, Geoffrey; Velez Justiniano, Yo-Ann; Nur, Mononita; Callahan, MichaelBacterial biofilms are ubiquitous in wastewater systems on earth and in spacecraft, such as in the International Space Station (ISS) wastewater processing assembly (WPA), where they cause problems in the tank, solenoid valves, and pipelines. Downstream filter applications, tank cycling, and regular biocide water flushing have been used to control biofilm accumulation on board the ISS. Biofilm control is expected to be a challenge for long-term missions with a dormancy period of up to a year, as stagnant water systems are highly susceptible to biofilm growth. Flushing of the system with biocidal water has been proposed to avoid biomass problems for long-term missions. To validate the proposed flush method, a mathematical model, based on the metabolism maintenance rate of bacteria, is being developed to understand the current biofilm accumulation rate in the ISS WPA system and to calculate the biomass production rate under dormancy-like conditions. This method of quantification of biofilm can be applied as a function of nutrient inputs to guide the selection and optimization of biofilm mitigation approaches. The method can also be helpful in understanding, defining, quantifying, visualizing, and simulating the state of the water processing system during operation and after dormancy.Item Status of ISS Biofilm Management Testing for the Water Processor Assembly(2023 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2023-07-16) Velez Justiniano, Yo-Ann; Murphy, Connor P.; Beitle, Eric; Cioanta, Iulian; Jackson, John; McGhin, Cary