Current space missions face significant challenges in managing waste and recycling resources, especially in closed environments like the International Space Station (ISS). Traditional Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) rely heavily on physical and chemical processes, which demand constant consumable inputs and generate hazardous byproducts. These systems often struggle to efficiently treat and recover valuable resources from waste streams, such as urine and graywater, posing sustainability issues for long-duration space missions and future exploration.
Our technology, the Suspended Aerobic Membrane Bioreactor (SAMBR), offers an innovative bioregenerative solution for waste treatment. This system leverages advanced biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes, carbonation, and membrane filtration to effectively treat urine and recover key resources with minimal consumable inputs. By scaling down industrial-scale biological treatment processes for space applications, SAMBR achieves high treatment efficiency within a compact footprint, making it ideal for space missions. This approach not only improves sustainability in space but also has potential applications on Earth, contributing to more efficient and eco-friendly waste management systems.
Process Flow Diagram (PFD) of SAMBR.