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When compared to physical and chemical processes for wastewater treatment in space, the benefits of biological systems include reduced storage and handling of waste material, lower energy requirements and plant growth system compatibility. An advanced membrane reactor (AMR) was constructed to treat ammonium-rich simulated wastewater. The effluent pH was approximately 6.3, and ammonium and TOC reduction rates were greater than 60 percent and 99 percent, respectively. The experimental results demonstrate that this technology may be suitable for space applications. However, the long-term performance of these systems should be investigated.

This research compared the nutrient content of the Biological Water Processor (BWP) effluent at JSC with acceptable nutrient ranges for general hydroponic NFT-solutions. Evaluated nutrient-components were NO3-N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, B, Cu and Mo. Compared to Cooper's and Molyneaux's solution (Jones, 1997) BWP-nutrient concentrations were low for Ca, Mg, Fe and B. Compared to the NFT-solution used at KSC (Wheeler et al., 1997), the BWP-effluent showed higher contents of P, K, Zn, Cu and Mo and lower contents of N, Ca, Mg, Fe and B. This indicates that the BWP-effluent could support NFT-plant production.