The project will develop a new technology for the oxidation of organic compounds that will then form carbon dioxide without the use of chemical reagents but as part of a system for the measurement of total organic carbon (TOC) in water. Using a combination of electrolytic and photolytic oxidation should permit complete and rapid oxidation for a wide range of organic compounds to form CO2. Preliminary experiments indicate that complete oxidation of methanol can be obtained at concentrations as high as 43 ppm of carbon, although additional research and development are required to provide long-term, high-oxidation efficiency. The oxidation reactor will be incorporated into a TOC analyzer developed by Sievers Instruments for the Crew Health Care System program and should find application in the environmental control, life-support system for Space Station Freedom and future manned missions. Successful completion of the research will lead to the development of an accurate TOC analyzer compatible with operation in a microgravity environment, with minimal use of chemical reagents, low maintenance, and almost no astronaut interaction required.
Potential Commercial Applications:Commercial applications include water quality measurement and water purification. Typical commercial users of this technology include electronics and pharmaceutical manufacturing, biotechnology, hazardous waste management, and electrical power industries.
