Regenerable, Integrated Trace Contaminant Control and Rapid Cycle Amine System for Sustainable Lunar and Martian EVAs

In this Phase I SBIR, XploSafe proposes to confirm the technical feasibility of a regenerable integrated Trace Contaminant Control (TCC) and Rapid Cycle Amine (RCA) system for the continuous removal of CO2 and trace contaminants from the ventilation loop of the Exploration Portable Life Support System (xPLSS). XploSafe has developed regenerable TCC and CO2 adsorbents that are capable of maintaining the CO2 and trace contaminant levels below their xEMU exposure thresholds and scaled their production to commercial scale. In addition, XploSafe has also constructed TCC and RCA test rigs for evaluating sorbents in closed-loop recirculating swing beds, which are capable of simulating Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) conditions, including sub-atmospheric pressure, flow rate, temperature control, contaminant source rates, and desired dosing metabolic profiles. The target deliverable is combining the TCC and RCA capabilities toward Lunar and Martian extravehicular activities (EVAs) to simplify the current xPLSS and eliminate redundant sorbent beds. The main advancement is integrating the TCC and CO2 sorbents based on nanoporous silica and acrylonitrile-modified tetraethylenepentamine (TEPAN), respectively, inside a single cartridge. TEPAN comprises of primary and secondary amines that offer adequate regeneration and considerable affinity toward carbon dioxide, while nanoporous silica can reversibly adsorb volatile organics from various chemical classes. Different combinations of these sorbents will be screened against a mixture of nine select TCC compounds and CO2, and their optimal configuration will be identified. XploSafe possesses all the required equipment to complete new material characterization, conduct TCC and CO2 breakthrough experiments, and execute large-scale testing with an xEMU simulating sub-atmospheric swing-bed. Ultimately, a prototype design that can be integrated into the next-generation xEMU with a combined RCA/TCC system will be proposed.
Benefits: As a synergistic development, the integrated RCA/TCC module will assist in ideally eliminating and likely reducing the frequency for replacement of sorbents and consumables. Once adapted, the proposed advancement shall reduce the overall system volume and mass, simplify the system design and generate major improvements to expand xEMU capabilities. It has the potential to address NASA’s mission priorities and technology gaps for spacesuit components to operate on the lunar surface for extended duration and operation on Mars. The demand for regenerable and high service life VOC and carbon dioxide scrubbers comes from recreational, healthcare, industrial and commercial markets. Carbon dioxide absorbers for anesthesia machines in healthcare both in portable and fixed configurations, CO2 scrubber materials for commercial and recreational diving, and VOC and carbon dioxide absorbers for mining and industrial safety are the primary markets. There are several auxiliary markets including biohazard suits, firefighting open circuit rebreathers, mine rescue / confined space rebreathers, portable life support compression chambers, industrial hazmat suits with fully closed circuit breathers, hyperbaric recompression chambers, specialty athletic chambers and submarine applications. Additional industrial needs include oil and gas operations, chemical and petrochemical processing applications, and processing of paints and coatings.