Advanced Waste Management in Space Missions

This paper describes the results of a feasibility assessment of the Wet Carbonization technology for converting space mission solid wastes into uniform and clean fuels. The Wet Carbonization experiments produced carbonized fuels with heating values up to 32,300 kJ/kg (13,900 Btu/lb, dry) for a 70% increase over the raw feedstocks. Combustion of the carbonized slurry fuel produced relatively low CO and NO_x emissions without the use of air pollution control systems. Based on laboratory results, a conceptual Wet Carbonization prototype was designed.