Project Title:

Purifying Post-Treated Water Using Solar/U.V. Irradiated Photocatalytic

12.01-4406
Project Title:Purifying Post-Treated Water Using Solar/U.V. Irradiated Photocatalytic
Module
Company:Photo-Catalytics, Inc.
Boulder, CO 80301
Principal Investigator:Cooper, Gerald

Abstract:

The use of exraterrestrial solar irradiated semiconductor powders to photocatalytically
oxidizeorganic toxicants persistent in the space station's post-treated water, to
the levels specified by NASA Medical Sciences Division, is proposed.  The total mineralization
of several classes of organic compounds by the UV irradiation of undoped, naked and
platinized TiO2 (anatase) powders has been abundantly demonstrated in the literature
and by us.  In this proposal the use of a novel powder-immobilizing structure (module)
permits continuous water treatment that is not possible with the conventionally employed
batch reactors; the module also avoids the problems of maintaining suspension of
the powder and subsequent powder separation.  The achievement of self-sufficient
water purification and other advantages of the module are discussed.  Data from this
Phase I study will also indicate the feasibility of totally supplanting charcoal
purification with solar irradiated modules.  Phase II R&D will address quartz module
scale-up; alternative manufacturing techniques; longevity testing, efficiency measurements
at high photon flux, and purification of actual post-treated and raw distillate water.