Synthetic Biological Membrane Forward Osmosis Trade Study

Date

2018-07-08

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

48th International Conference on Environmental Systems

Abstract

This document provides a trade study for the Synthetic Biological Membrane (SBM). The objective is to compare the SBM technology against the current state of the art in spacecraft water recycling. The primary advantage of the SBM is that it improves the reliability of membrane based water recycling systems which have inherent mass, power and volume benefits over competing systems. The SBM is a novel biomimetic technology that reduces the need to replace separation membranes that become fouled, or are damaged due to oxidation. The technology is based on a new generation of biological membranes that have the ability to heal by replacing a sacrificial fatty acid (FA) coating on the membrane’s active side. The FAs are generated in situ by genetically engineered organisms that live in contact with the membrane using nutrients that are extracted from the feed across the membrane.

Description

Michael Flynn, NASA
Rocco Mancinelli, BAER Institute

Jaione Romero-Mangado, NASA
Hali Shaw, NASA
Jurek Parodi, NASA
Abdelrahman Budair, University of Cambridge
Simone Tatum, NASA
ICES303: Physio-Chemical Life Support- Water Recovery & Management Systems- Technology and Process Development
The 48th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA on 08 July 2018 through 12 July 2018.

Keywords

membrane, Water recycling, genetics

Citation