Search Results

Control of carbon dioxide (CO2) is crucial for all crew inhabited space-flight missions. Air revitalization requires safe and reliable CO2 extraction systems characterized by small volume, low mass, low rate of energy use, minimal use of consumables, and little or no crew time for operation and maintenance. Current designs are relatively costly to operate due to consumable usage rates (e.g., LiOH), high mass and/or volume (solid amines), and/or high energy costs associated with regeneration of CO2 adsorption capacity (e.g., metal oxide). Our work focuses on the development of a highly efficient enzyme catalyzed, Carbonic Anhydrase based liquid membrane biomimetic reactor. We report here on the use of aqueous chemistry modeling to guide the design of new liquid membrane compositions. We examine the effects of these new solutions on enzyme activity and on the solubility of other gases in the mix.

The technologies for processing respiratory gases to support humans and plants and to provide material for regeneration of oxygen in Advanced Life Support applications remain far from optimal. Here we report on our ongoing efforts to develop an enzyme-based, hybrid, facilitated transport bioreactor for the efficient capture of CO2 from dilute respiratory gas streams. In this paper, we examine four different cases with respect to maintaining a driving force for removal of CO2 from respiratory gas.