Optimum Loading Rates and Design Limitations of Biological Reactors for Long-Term Space Habitation Waste Streams

Biological pre-treatment of liquid waste could potentially offer equivalent mass savings for long term space habitation. However, limited engineering studies have been performed to determine the optimum loading rates or to fully characterize (limiting reactants) the biochemical transformations occurring within the reactors. The objective of these studies was to provide loading rate data on a proposed and well studied reactor configuration. All studies were performed using a simulated early planetary base waste stream. Results indicate that the reactor’s efficiency is greater than typical terrestrial reactors and that transformation is limited by non-kinetic parameters.