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BAF-EXEMSI '92: Testing of the Biological Air Filter for Air Quality Control during a Manned Space Mission Simulation
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Abstract
The concept for the “Biological Air Filter” (BAF) is based onto the property of certain selected microorganisms for the complete oxidation to water, carbon dioxide and salts, of gaseous contaminants.
The EXEMSI manned space mission simulation campaign offered a good opportunity for testing the performances of an experimental BAF on a real confined atmosphere.
Major obtained results are:
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confirmation of the validity of the fundamental concepts selected for the BAF, i.e.
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the use of an engineered microbial population and,
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the immobilisation of this population in a membrane reactor,
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confirmation of the applicability of microbial conversion to a very wide range of contaminants concentrations from SMAC values (usually ppm range; working range for previous laboratory testing) to extremely low concentrations (ppb range) observed during the campaign,
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identification of complementary bioconversion capability as compared to what was known before the campaign for the microbial population used; this applies for a number of still unidentified compounds (C3.7, C4.8, C6.2, C10.3 and C13.2), for ethyne, ethene, propene and propane, and for isopropanol and methane for which the population was not adapted in the preparatory laboratory phase.
Among the degraded contaminants, elimination yield for the identified contaminants ranges around 10 to 40% for methane, 50 to 90% for acetone, 80 to 99% for isopropanol and above 99.9% for toluene. Computer modelling show that such a methane conversion efficiency (obtained for a single passage through a BAF) is sufficient to maintain the methane concentration in a space cabin below the SMAC value.
As a side result, the trace contamination regime in EXEMSI was experienced being characterised by very sharp and large changes in concentrations; a further conclusion regarding confinement experiments is hence the need for continuous or integrating monitoring of trace contaminants.
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Binot, R., Breukers, R., Paul, P., and Jager, D., "BAF-EXEMSI '92: Testing of the Biological Air Filter for Air Quality Control during a Manned Space Mission Simulation," SAE Technical Paper 941343, 1994, https://doi.org/10.4271/941343.Also In
References
- Binot R.A. Paul P.G. 1989 BAF - an advanced ecological concept for air quality control 19h ICES San Diego July 24-26 SAE 891535
- Keuning S. Jager D. Paul P.G. Binot R.A. 1991 Biodegradation studies with space cabin contaminants to determine the feasibility of biological air filtration 837 841 Guyenne Hunt Proc. 4th Eur. Symp. Space Env. Control Sys. Firenze, Italy 21-24 Oct ESA-SP-324
- ESA-DSSM-LTPO 1993 Main Report on EXEMSI '92 Vaernes R.J.
- Hartmans S. Leenen E.J. Voskuilen G.T. 1992 Membrane bioreactor with porous hydrophobic mem branes for waste-gas treatment 103 106 Dragt van Ham Biotechniques for Air Pollution Abatement and Odour Control Policies Elsevier Sci. Pub
- Soulez-Lariviere C. Le Pechon J.C. Radziszewski E. 1994 Evaluation of volatile organic contamination in human breath and environment during EXEMSI '92 24th ICES - 5th ESSECS Friedrichshafen June 20-23 paper SAE 941507