SBIR-STTR Award

In this Phase I SBIR, XploSafe proposes to develop and confirm the technical feasibility of the use of nanoporous silica as a vacuum regenerable sorbent for integration into NASA’s Exploration Portable Life Support System (xPLSS). Not only is this sorbent vacuum regenerable, it has other advantages over activated carbon that could benefit the NASA space program. Two of these is higher sorption capacities for volatile organic compounds and more rapid sorption rates that could lead to reduced weight and size requirements. In this investigation, the sorption rate and capacity for seven of the highest priority trace contaminants (based on generation rates and Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentrations (SMAC) limits) will be determined. The ability for these contaminants to be removed from the sorbent by exposure to a moderate vacuum at ambient temperature will be demonstrated. Once the uptake capacities and rates for each trace contaminant are known for the OSU-6 sorbent and the logistics for vacuum regeneration of the sorbent have been determined, it will be possible to create a concept design for the vacuum regenerable element that could be integrated into the Exploration Portable Life Support System. This will be used in Phase II to produce and test a prototype vacuum-regenerable Trace Contaminant Control element Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) Successful development of the proposed technology will advance the state of the art in trace contamination control. As a part of the Exploration Portable Life Support System (xPLSS) and the Exploration Extra-vehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) units, the platform technology will advance the viability of NASA's crewed deep space exploration objectives. Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words) Success in developing more effective and efficient filtration media could provide a significant enhancement in the protection of public health and the environment. This new filter media will serve a wide variety of markets as high efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA) in HVAC systems. Applications range from clean rooms, labs, industrial manufacturers, coal and ore mining facilities etc.

In this Phase II SBIR proposal, XploSafe will build on its Phase I work investigating the use of nanoporous silica as a sorbent for NASA’s Trace Contamination Control System within the Exploration Portable Life Support System (xPLSS). Phase I results demonstrated the feasibility of using nanoporous silica as a vacuum regenerable sorbent for integration into NASA’s xPLSS. It was shown that this sorbent has significant advantages due to its high capacity for ammonia and other trace contaminants. It also has the ability to be vacuum regenerated for potential future integration into the swing-bed structures in the xPLSS. For Phase II, XploSafe will further investigate physical properties of the sorbent as it related to specific NASA requirements, expand experimental measurements of the capacity and kinetics for the sorption of potential trace contaminants and their combinations to 18 potential target analytes, and develop and verify a prototype for integration in the xPLSS. The combination of the nanoporous silica and a functionalized material will be considered to ensure complete elimination of the wide range of contaminants. For the prototype, two different versions will be examined, one in which the sorbent will be contained in microporous tubes, preventing all possibility of dust generation at the expense of kinetics; and a second more traditional design based on direct flow through the sorbent filter material. At a minimum, an early prototype is envisioned at the midpoint of the Phase II contract with the final version delivered at the end of the project Potential NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): Successful development of the proposed technology will advance the state of the art in trace contamination control. As a part the Exploration Portable Life Support System (xPLSS) and the Exploration Extra-vehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) units, the new sorbent technology will advance the viability of NASA's crewed deep space exploration objectives Potential Non-NASA Applications (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words): Success in developing more effective and efficient filtration media could provide a significant enhancement in the protection of public health and the environment. This new filter media will serve a wide variety of markets as high efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA) in HVAC systems. Applications range from clean rooms, labs, industrial manufacturers, coal and ore mining facilities etc. Duration: 24