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[Development of a ground-based experimental facility for space waste material processing with microorganism].
Wei-dang Ai1, Shuang-sheng Guo, Xiao-xia Wang
1Institute of Space Medico-engineering, Beijing, China. aiweidang@126.com
Summary
This study developed a ground-based facility for microorganism waste processing to recover plant nutrients from inedible biomass. The system demonstrated effective nutrient recovery and biodegradation, suitable for space applications.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Environmental Science
- Astrobiology
Background:
- Efficient waste processing and nutrient recovery are crucial for sustainable agriculture and closed-loop life support systems.
- Plant inedible biomass represents a significant underutilized resource for nutrient recycling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design, fabricate, and test a ground-based experimental facility for processing plant inedible biomass using microorganisms.
- To assess the facility's capability for nutrient recovery and waste biodegradation.
Main Methods:
- Defined technical parameters and performance requirements.
- Conducted facility design, fabrication, debugging, and biodegradation tests.
- Evaluated water-treated quality and biodegradation efficiency.
Main Results:
- The facility met design requirements for energy consumption, volume, and weight.
- Achieved high biodegradation rates: over 92.1% total organic carbon (TOC) degradation and 95.5% chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction.
- Demonstrated superior water treatment quality and plant residue biodegradation capabilities.
Conclusions:
- The developed facility exhibits reasonable technical performance and reliable operation.
- The core working principle is suitable for space environmental conditions.
- The system is capable of biodegrading plant inedible biomass for potential space-based applications.