Microgravity Freeze Separation

Boeing has bench tested a novel microgravity freeze separation process to treat various spacecraft waste streams. Three binary aqueous solutions were used to simulate the waste streams: sodium chloride, ethanol, and ammonia. The ability to operate and model this process was successfully demonstrated. Single pass separation efficiencies of greater than 99% were realized for ammonia, between 55 and 76% for sodium chloride, and up to 68% for ethanol.