Tool for Rapid Identification of TCE in Plants

Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) used for extended space missions must recover and process wastewater to provide potable water for crew consumption and oxygen generation. Exploration mission spacecraft will have a smaller crew than the ISS, meaning demands would typically be less than what full-featured commercial TOC analyzers are designed to provide. Current analyzer technology also has limitations and uncertainties for spaceflight integration, such as part traceability, reliability, material properties for flammability or off-gassing, software and interface that are inconsis-tent with spaceflight needs, human factors, and structural reliability. The MiniTOCA provides a compact solution to the performance demands of onboard water quality analysis for crewed exploration missions through a unique core technology process that facilitates the detection of trace organic compounds in a water sample. It utilizes an ultra-violet oxidation method to activate the dissolved oxygen in the water which results in oxidation of the organic chemicals into carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is then measured by a Miniature Tunable Laser Spectrometer (MTLS) by sweeping the carbon dioxide out of the water in a gas / liquid separator using nitrogen gas. This novel process allows for small system sample volumes, small overall size/mass, zero consumables, low average power con-sumption (less than 60W), projected long-life (~10 years), and reliable analytical performance – all addressing critical performance gaps within the current TOC analyzer industry. Lab and environmental testing demonstrated that the MiniTOCA’s architecture is both feasible and is excellent in performance. Potential commercial applications for the MiniTOCA include, but are not limited to, ultra-pure water (UPW) systems; remote, mobile, and distributed environmental water quality monitoring; and specialized industrial process control. Technologies comprising the device lend themselves to miniaturization and are forward leaning in exploration applications. The MiniTOCA is scheduled to be flown and imple-mented aboard the ISS in late 2025.

PCBs have been shown to cause cancer in animals and to have other adverse effects on immune, reproductive, nervous, and endocrine systems. Although the production of PCBs in the United States has been banned since the late 1970s, many surfaces are still coated with PCB-laden paints. The presence of PCBs in paints adds complexity and expense for disposal. Some treatment methods (e.g., use of solvents, physical removal via scraping) are capable of removing PCBs from surfaces, but these technologies create a new waste stream that must be treated. Other methods, like incineration, can destroy the PCBs but destroy the painted structure as well, preventing reuse. To address limitations with traditional abatement methods for PCBs in paints, researchers at NASAs Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and the University of Central Florida have developed the Activated Metal Treatment System (AMTS) for Paints. This innovative technology consists of a solvent solution (e.g., ethanol, d-limonene) that contains an activated zero-valent metal. AMTS is first applied to the painted surface either using spray-on techniques or wipe-on techniques. The solution then extracts the PCBs from the paint. The extracted PCBs react with the microscale activated metal and are degraded into benign by-products. This technology can be applied without removing the paint or dismantling the painted structure. In addition, the surface can be reused following treatment.

NASA's system was developed for smaller-scale, space-based applications. However, the technology is scalable for larger industrial and municipal water treatment applications. Implementation of the Ammonia Recovery System could significantly reduce nitrogen content from water treatment processes, meaningfully improving the quality of water. This system offers a novel way to reduce nitrogen water pollutants, while allowing for the nitrogen to be collected and reused- reducing environmental and public health risks and providing an environmentally friendly fertilizer option. NASAs environmental solutions work to sustain life on earth through space based technology The adaptable nature of this system gives it potentially broad applications in a wide variety of industries; it is particularly ideal for on-site remediation of wastewater in places like condo complexes, hotels and water parks. Current methods of ammonia recovery could not meet NASAs mission requirements, so a new process was devised to optimize for high ammonia selectivity, simplicity, low volume , low power usage and zero contaminants in the effluent. To do this, NASA designed a novel regenerable struvite-formation system for the capture of ammonia. This system has three primary functions: 1) Removal of ammonia from wastewater using a media that is highly selective for ammonia 2) Capture of the ammonia for later use (e.g., as a fertilizer) 3) Regeneration of the capture media for reuse in the system

The technology is a sensor for remotely detecting sub part-per-billion (ppb) levels of ambient trace gases and chemical species. The system includes a high-repetition-rate, pulsed laser module that is spectrally tuned to a desired chemical species. The photons from the laser are absorbed by the target chemical, creating an acoustic vibration that impacts a diaphragm (which acts like a speaker). A highly sensitive, photo-emf detector is then used to measure the magnitude of the vibration, which corresponds to the concentration of the target chemical. The technology is being developed for NASA's trace-gas measurement needs for validation and ground truth studies to support airborne and space-based LIDAR operations. The technology has application as a chemical sniffer to detect hazardous or toxic chemical species in the vicinity of IEDs, explosives, or other chemical agents. In such an application the sensor could detect chemical species hidden inside closed containers, bags, or car trunks.

The technology involves a sophisticated system designed to detect conditions through the analysis of exhaled breath, utilizing an array of nanomaterial sensors fabricated upon a standard printed circuit board with interdigitated electrodes. These sensors are configured to interact with a sample gas that contains various Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) associated with a variety of biological conditions. Each sensor consists of nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, composite nanotubes, nanoparticle-doped nanotubes, or polymer-coated nanotubes, all disposed on an electrically conductive structure. These sensors are highly sensitive to specific VOCs at a broad spectrum of concentrations, and each sensor generates a unique measurable electrical signal on interaction with VOCs in the breath that reflects the presence and concentration of specific components in the sample gas. The previously nanosensor diagnosis technology has been further developed to identify 64 specific formulations of nanomaterials that exhibit unique and varying sensitivities to VOCs, which enables unique response signatures to be developed for a wide range of VOCs. A single device may be developed using these principles to detect a variety of health conditions and diseases.