[Radiation sterilization of concentrated salt solutions]

Area of Science:

• Spacecraft Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS)
• Radiation Sterilization
• Water Purification Technologies

Background:

• Orbital systems generate condensate requiring mineralization for potable water.
• Existing sterilization methods may not be suitable for salt-containing solutions.
• Need for reliable methods to ensure water safety in space.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate irradiation sterilization for syringes containing concentrated salt solutions.
• To assess the suitability of these syringes for water mineralization in space applications.
• To analyze the quality of sterilized water and salt stability.

Main Methods:

• Development of a technique for irradiation sterilization of batch syringes.
• Use of gamma-source RTs-100M for sterilization.
• Analysis of concentrated salt solutions (CaCl2, MgSO4, NaHCO3, K2SO4).
• Assessment of resultant potable water composition and quality.
• Evaluation of salt stability post-irradiation.

Main Results:

• Successful development of an irradiation sterilization technique for salt solution syringes.
• Gamma irradiation demonstrated effective sterilization of the syringes.
• Concentrated salts within the syringes remained stable after irradiation.
• Resultant potable water met quality standards for consumption.

Conclusions:

• Irradiation sterilization is a viable method for preparing salt solution syringes for water mineralization.
• The developed technique ensures the safety and stability of solutions for producing potable water from various sources.
• This method supports advanced life support systems in space exploration.