Using Effluent from a Hybrid Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Treating Fecal Waste for Hydroponic Fertigation of Pak Choi

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dc.creatorSmith, Alexandra
dc.creatorBullard, Talon
dc.creatorSaetta, Daniella
dc.creatorFischer, Jason
dc.creatorHaarmann, Katrina
dc.creatorNascimento Akepeu, Flaubert
dc.creatorRoberson, Luke
dc.creatorYeh, Daniel
dc.date.accessioned2023-06-20T15:05:40Z
dc.date.available2023-06-20T15:05:40Z
dc.date.issued2023-07-16
dc.descriptionAlexandra Smith, University of South Florida, USA
dc.descriptionTalon Bullard, University of South Florida, USA
dc.descriptionDaniella Saetta, University of South Florida, USA
dc.descriptionJason Fischer, NASA Kennedy Space Center, USA
dc.descriptionKatrina Haarmann, University of South Florida, USA
dc.descriptionFlaubert Nascimento Akepeu, University of South Florida, USA
dc.descriptionLuke Roberson, NASA Kennedy Space Center, USA
dc.descriptionDaniel Yeh, University of South Florida, USA
dc.descriptionICES304: Physio-Chemical Life Support- Waste Management Systems- Technology and Process Development
dc.descriptionThe 52nd International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Calgary, Canada, on 16 July 2023 through 20 July 2023.
dc.description.abstractChallenges for future deep space ECLSS will include providing potable water, supplying nutritious food, and managing wastes generated by the crew. With next to no readily available resources to sustain human life on the Moon and Mars, nothing can be considered a waste, and every resource, including all organic wastes generated by the crew (e.g., fecal), should be deemed for recovery and reuse. Fecal waste aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is currently treated as solid waste and not recycled in any capacity. The high-water content (fecal material being ~75% water), complexity, and the presence of pathogens make fecal waste difficult to stabilize and process. However, fecal material contains considerable fractions of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and minerals which after stabilization, can be recovered and used as plant fertilizer. There is considerable research about growing food in Lunar and Martian greenhouses but a major limitation for plant growth will be continuously supplying fertilizer salts. Recognizing the need for a bioregenerative approach to fecal waste, an organic processor assembly (OPA) unit was developed through collaboration between the University of South Florida and NASA’s Kennedy Space. OPA is a hybrid, physical-biological treatment technology that couples an anaerobic bioreactor with a tubular ultrafiltration membrane. OPA is designed to treat and recover resources from the solid organic waste stream of a crew of four astronauts on an early planetary base. Aspects of OPA’s long-term operations and water quality treatment analysis were presented at ICES 2022. This conference paper will present preliminary research regarding the downstream use of OPA’s nutrient-rich effluent, produced from an actual fecal influent, in supporting the growth of extra dwarf bok choy from germination to maturity. Overall, OPA1 is an enabling technology demonstrating its potential to minimize fecal storage volume and assist in waste management, while additionally offsetting fertilizer demand.
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.otherICES-2023-263
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2346/94685
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher2023 International Conference on Environmental Systems
dc.subjectBioregenerative
dc.subjectFecal
dc.subjectAnaerobic Membrane Bioreactor
dc.subjectBioreactor effluent
dc.subjectPlant Fertigation
dc.subjectbioponics
dc.subjectPak Choi
dc.titleUsing Effluent from a Hybrid Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Treating Fecal Waste for Hydroponic Fertigation of Pak Choien_US
dc.typePresentations

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