Results of the Alternative Water Processor Test, A Novel Technology for Exploration Wastewater Remediation

2016-07-282016-07-282016-07-10ICES_2016_57http://hdl.handle.net/2346/67499United StatesJacobsNASANASA Johnson Space CenterTexas Tech University204ICES204: Bioregenerative Life SupportVienna, AustriaCaitlin E. Meyer, Johnson Space Center, USAStuart Pensinger, Johnson Space Center, USASarah A. Shull, Johnson Space Center, USANiklas Adam, Johnson Space Center, USALeticia M. Vega, Jacobs Engineering, USAKevin Lange, Jacobs Engineering, USADylan Christenson, Texas Tech University, USAW. Andrew Jackson, Texas Tech University, USAThe 46th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Vienna, Austria, USA on 10 July 2016 through 14 July 2016.Biologically-based water recovery systems are a regenerative, low energy alternative to physiochemical processes to reclaim water from wastewater. This report summarizes the results of the Alternative Water Processor (AWP) Integrated Test, conducted from June 2013 until April 2014. The system was comprised of four (4) membrane aerated bioreactors (MABRs) to remove carbon and nitrogen from an exploration mission wastewater and a coupled forward and reverse osmosis system to remove large organic and inorganic salts from the biological system effluent. The system exceeded the overall objectives of the test by recovering 90% of the influent wastewater processed into a near potable state and a 64% reduction of consumables from the current state of the art water recovery system on the International Space Station (ISS). However, the biological system fell short of its test goals, failing to remove 75% and 90% of the influent ammonium and organic carbon, respectively. Despite not meeting its test goals, the BWP demonstrated the feasibility of an attached-growth biological system for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification, an innovative, volume- and consumable-saving design that does not require toxic pretreatment.engBiological Water Processor (BWP)Membrane Aerated Bioreactor (MABR)Simultaneous Nitrifcation / Denitrification (SND)BiofilmWastewaterAlternative Water Processor (AWP)Results of the Alternative Water Processor Test, A Novel Technology for Exploration Wastewater RemediationPresentation