Evaluation of the Possibility of Using Human and Plant Wastes in Bioregenerative Life Support Systems 2005-01-2981

At present there is no valid approach to the problem of incorporating human solid and liquid wastes and plants wastes into the organic matter turnover of bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS). As a rule, these waste products are currently either stored inside a system or subjected to processing by physicochemical methods. Thus, it is too early to speak of a full value return of human and plant wastes in intrasystem matter turnover. This study discusses the combination of physicochemical and biological methods for human and plant waste utilization allowing an increased degree of closure of matter turnover. The human solid wastes following physicochemical processing were included in intrasystem turnover together with plants wastes by using biological oxidation in soil-like substrate (SLS). The next stage was the inclusion of salt-tolerant plants (halophytes) into the BLSS so that mineral elements contained in urine could be recycled into matter turnover. The possibility of using the abovementioned methods in BLSS is discussed.