http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/30oct_eclss.htm?list930300
Sci-fi Life Support
Oct. 30, 2006: In Frank Herbert's epic ecological novel
Dune (1965), set on the fictitious desert planet
Arrakis in another star system, water is so precious that
even perspiration and breath moisture are captured and purified
for drinking.
On real-life voyages to the Moon and
Mars, science fact may end up imitating science fiction.
Indeed, scientists and engineers at NASA's Marshall Space
Flight Center (MSFC) are putting the finishing touches on
systems for capturing exhaled carbon dioxide and urine and
turning them into breathable oxygen and drinking water.
Urine recovery is an engineering challenge: "Urine is so
much dirtier than ordinary humidity," Carrasquillo
explains. "It can corrode hardware and clog hoses." ECLSS
uses a purification process called vapor compression
distillation: urine is boiled until the water in it turns
to steam. The steamessentially clean water vapor except
for some traces of ammonia and other gasesrises into a
distillation chamber, leaving behind a concentrated brown
soup of impurities and salts that Carrasquillo charitably
calls "brine" (which is discarded). The steam is cooled
and condenses back into liquid. This steam distillate is
then mixed with the humidity condensate, and the water
further purified to become potable. ECLSS
can recover 100 percent of moisture in the air, and 85
percent of the water in urine, resulting in a net overall
recovery efficiency of about 93 percent.
Faith Saint Francis wrote: Dan Nave wrote:
>>Get over the "yuck" factor! Check out the article noted below. There are
>>many others. Some people even site Biblical mention of this practice. <<
this, in connection with the Urine Therapy Practices.
I have written extensively about this topic, with very little result. The
yuck factor indeed. Moreover it should really be treated in the off-topic
list (does that one still exist???)
Carol Ann
People should not be afraid of their Governments. Governments should be afraid
of their people.
"V"
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