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Maintaining a healthy atmosphere in closed life support systems is essential for the crew well being and the success of manned space missions. During the SBIR Phase I effort, Lynntech, Inc., developed a bench scale trace contaminant control (TCC) system utilizing a photocatalytic filter. Testing successfully demonstrated the technology feasibility for eliminating airborne chemicals and microorganisms. During the SBIR Phase II project, a scaled-up, fully operational breadboard system is being developed and tested. Testing gases include chemicals significantly present in the International Space Station cabin air and that are drivers in the design of trace contaminant control systems. The use of Lynntech’s air cleaner allows for a system that is cost-effective and functional with a superior removal of gas pollutants and bio-aerosols from contaminated air streams beyond the capabilities of traditional photocatalysis. It also overcomes limitations of current TCC systems.

Currently used instruments for the analysis of total inorganic carbon (TIC) and total organic carbon (TOC) in water and wastewater samples require the use of hazardous chemicals which is not acceptable in their application for long-term space missions. A new design concept of the “reagentless” carbon analyzer (RCA) for determination of both TIC and TOC for water quality monitoring in space is proposed and tested. The concept is based on generating all the chemicals needed for the TIC and TOC analysis within the instrument, and avoiding the need for storing a supply of chemicals. The chemicals are either generated or recirculated in the instrument, or an alternative approach for their use is developed, such as using photocatalytic oxidation instead of oxidizing chemicals for TOC analysis. The fully developed miniaturized instrument will incorporate microfluidic based design principles.