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Development of bioreactor technology for a regenerative life support primary water processor is ongoing by a team, composed of NASA and major aerospace companies, using a concurrent integrated approach. This approach consists of performing small-scale reactor experimental investigations, large-scale experimental studies, and computer modeling efforts on both the bioprocessor subsystem level and on the integrated water recovery system level. Bench-top experimental studies are aimed at developing an understanding of the biological process and the effect of key parameters on the process, determining the operational envelope for the regenerative life support application, and addressing process control issues. The large-scale experimental studies, in which a bioprocessor is one subsystem of an overall water recovery system, address the full-scale system integration and operational issues.

Immobilized cell bioreactor (ICB) technology is being investigated under a multiyear, company-funded program to evaluate its applicability as a primary water processor for treatment of wastewater streams in a regenerative life support system (RLSS). Biological wastewater treatment methods may offer several advantages for long-duration space missions. Most contaminants found in life support wastewater can be aerobically converted by microorganisms to simple chemical molecules, such as carbon dioxide, water, ammonia, and nitrate. Thus, one unit could process several, possibly all, wastewater streams. This type of biochemical process can be operated at or near ambient temperature and pressure, requiring very little energy. In addition, bioreactor configurations are relatively simple. The objective of this paper is to describe two aspects of the ongoing ICB research: 1) performance stability over an extended time period, and 2) new reactor designs.

Immobilized microbial cell bioreactor technology is being investigated under a company-funded program to evaluate its applicability as a primary water processor for treatment of wastewater streams in a regenerative life support system. Incorporating biological wastewater treatment methods, as either a primary processor or a trace contaminant polisher, may offer several advantages over use of physicochemical processing methods alone, for long-duration space missions. Most contaminants found in a life support wastewater stream can be biologically converted to simple molecules. This occurs at near ambient temperature and pressure, requiring very little energy. In addition, bioreactor configurations are relatively simple, compared to physicochemical processes. One of the major benefits of using an immobilized cell bioreactor as a primary processor in a regenerative life support system is that such a unit could process several, and possibly all, of the wastewater streams.