Title: Effect of different waste recovery systems on the overall waste generation rates for an Advanced Life Support System

Authors: Selen Aydogan, Joseph F. Pekny, Seza Orcun

Addresses: School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA. ' School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA. ' e-Enterprise Center, Discovery Park, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

Abstract: This work demonstrates how studies of life support systems can be used to advance the understanding of environmental principles. Efficient waste recovery systems that are developed for the Advanced Life Support System used in space explorations can be utilised on Earth. As an example, we explored three different ALSS scenarios, each having different waste recovery technologies. The results are compared in terms of the overall waste generation rates. It is concluded that physicochemical waste recovery systems, with their low level of uncertainty in operating conditions and high recovery efficiencies, are the best choice for a 600 day mission to Mars.

Keywords: advanced life support systems; ALSS; physicochemical waste recovery; bioregenerative waste recovery; waste generation rates; environmental pollution; pollution prevention; space exploration; waste minimisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2007.012805

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2007 Vol.29 No.1/2/3, pp.232 - 253

Published online: 15 Mar 2007 *

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