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Zheng L, Zhang C, Gao R, Zhang L, Ai W, Ulbricht M, Wei Y. Anaerobic membrane bioreactor for hygiene wastewater treatment in controlled ecological life support systems: Degradation of surfactants and microbial community succession. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 386:129517. [PMID: 37468015 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
The treatment and reuse of hygiene wastewater is crucial to "close the loop" in the controlled ecological life support system (CELSS), and to guarantee longer space missions or planetary habitation. In this work, anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) was applied for hygiene wastewater treatment, focused on surfactant degradation and microbial community succession. The removal efficiency of COD and surfactants was 90%∼97% and 80% with a urine source-separation strategy. The microbial community gradually shifted from methanogens to sulfur-metabolizing and surfactant-degradation bacteria, such as Aeromonas. Sulfate was a surfactant degradation product, which triggered sulfate reduction and methane inhibition. The activated carbohydrate and sulfur metabolism were the key mechanism of the microbial process for the excellent performance of AnMBR. This study analyzed the degradation mechanism from the perspective of microbial mechanism, offers a solution for CELSS hygiene wastewater treatment, and supports the future improvement and refinement of AnMBR technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libing Zheng
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085 Beijing, China; Department of Water Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085 Beijing, China; Lehrstuhl für Technische Chemie II, Universität Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Chun Zhang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085 Beijing, China; Department of Water Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085 Beijing, China
| | - Rui Gao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085 Beijing, China; Department of Water Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085 Beijing, China
| | - Liangchang Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, 100094 Beijing, China
| | - Weidang Ai
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, 100094 Beijing, China
| | - Mathias Ulbricht
- Lehrstuhl für Technische Chemie II, Universität Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany
| | - Yuansong Wei
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085 Beijing, China; Department of Water Pollution Control, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100085 Beijing, China.
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Jiang H, Liu X, Zhang J, Tian K, Zhou K. Mechanical compression assisted heat drying of space solid waste: Dewatering performance and volatile pollutants identification. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 229:115632. [PMID: 36898421 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Hot melt compression treatment is a new technology in which traditional pressure dehydration is combined with thermal effects to achieve improved liquid/solid separation with low energy consumption. A dewatering process combining the mechanical expression with the heating treatment of space solid waste is proposed in this paper. Temperatures of 130-180 °C and a mechanical load of 0-8 MPa were employed on the drying behavior of space solid waste and product distribution with a self-designed hot press experimental setup. Experimental results showed that mechanical compression employed at increased temperatures had revealed a significant benefit in water recovery, resulting in the highest reduction of 95.5% of the moisture content. Considering the dehydration efficiency, the dewatering process of solid waste showed a positive effect at 160 °C and 6 MPa with a residence time of 100 min. At the same time, the reusability and chemical evolution were characterized comprehensively. The results showed that the condensed water had great potential to be reused as drinking water in the space station. Moreover, from an integrated perspective involving gaseous emissions, oxygen-containing functional groups accounting for 51.58-76.01% were the main components of the gas products. Halohydrocarbon was identified as the key volatile pollutant during the process of hot compression. In conclusion, this study gives a detailed insight into the hot melt compression behavior of space waste and offers potential opportunities and benefits for space solid waste treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Jiang
- School of Resources and Environment, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, 411105, Hunan, China
| | - Xiang Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, Chinese Astronaut Research and Training, Beijing, 100094, China.
| | - Junfeng Zhang
- School of Resources and Environment, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, 411105, Hunan, China.
| | - Ke Tian
- School of Resources and Environment, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, 411105, Hunan, China
| | - Kanghan Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, Chinese Astronaut Research and Training, Beijing, 100094, China
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Wang F, Liu J, Li D, Liu Z, Zhang J, Ding P, Liu G, Feng Y. High-Efficiency Water Recovery from Urine by Vacuum Membrane Distillation for Space Applications: Water Quality Improvement and Operation Stability. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12060629. [PMID: 35736336 PMCID: PMC9230999 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12060629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Water recovery by membrane distillation (MD) is an attractive alternative to existing urine treatment systems because it could improve the water recovery rate and reliability in space missions. However, there are few studies of urine MD, particularly on the removal of the remaining contaminants from distillate water and the assessment of its long-term performance. In this study, the influences of various operation parameters on distillate water quality and operation stability were investigated in batch mode. The low pH of feedstock reduced the conductivity and total ammonium nitrogen (TAN) in distillate water because the low pH promoted the ionization of ammonia to ammonium ions. However, the low pH also facilitated the formation of free chlorine hydride, which resulted in the minor deterioration of the conductivity in the distillate due to the increasing volatility of chlorine hydride in the feedstock. Thirty batches of vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) experiments demonstrated that the permeate flux and the distillate water quality slightly decreased due to the small range of membrane wetting but still maintained an over 94.2% and 95.8% removal efficiency of the total organic carbon (TOC) and TAN, and the conductivity was <125 μs cm−1 in the distillate water after 30 test batches. VMD is a feasible option for urine treatment in space missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Wang
- School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; (F.W.); (J.L.); (D.L.); (J.Z.)
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing 100094, China;
| | - Junfeng Liu
- School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; (F.W.); (J.L.); (D.L.); (J.Z.)
| | - Da Li
- School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; (F.W.); (J.L.); (D.L.); (J.Z.)
| | - Zheng Liu
- The Institute of Seawater Desalination and Multipurpose Utilization, MNR (Tianjin), Tianjin 300192, China; (Z.L.); (G.L.)
| | - Jie Zhang
- School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; (F.W.); (J.L.); (D.L.); (J.Z.)
| | - Ping Ding
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing 100094, China;
| | - Guochang Liu
- The Institute of Seawater Desalination and Multipurpose Utilization, MNR (Tianjin), Tianjin 300192, China; (Z.L.); (G.L.)
| | - Yujie Feng
- School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China; (F.W.); (J.L.); (D.L.); (J.Z.)
- Correspondence:
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Zhao T, Liu G, Liu D, Yi Y, Xie B, Liu H. Water recycle system in an artificial closed ecosystem - Lunar Palace 1: Treatment performance and microbial evolution. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 806:151370. [PMID: 34728198 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Water recycle systems have important implications to realize material circulation in biological regeneration life support systems, which is of significance for long-term space missions and future planetary base. Based on membrane biological activated carbon reactor (MBAR) technologies, the 'Lunar Palace 365' experiment established various treatment processes for condensate wastewater, domestic wastewater, urine, and used nutrient solutions. The 370-day operation data showed the CODMn index of purified condensate wastewater decreased to 0.74 ± 0.15 mg/L, which met the standards for drinking water quality. The average removal rate of organic contaminants in domestic wastewater by the MBAR was 85.7% ± 10.2%, and this MBAR also had a stable nitrification performance with effluent NO3--N concentrations fluctuating from 145.57 mg/L to 328.59 mg/L. Moreover, the purification of urine achieved the conversion of urea-N to NH4+-N and thus the partial recovery of nitrogen. 16S rDNA sequencing results revealed the evolution of microbial diversity and composition during the long-term operation. Meiothermus, Rhodanobacter, and Ochrobactrum were the dominant microorganisms in various MBARs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Zhao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China; Institute of Environmental Biology and Life Support Technology, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China; International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Guanghui Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China; Institute of Environmental Biology and Life Support Technology, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China; International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Dianlei Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China; Institute of Environmental Biology and Life Support Technology, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China; International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yue Yi
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Beizhen Xie
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China; Institute of Environmental Biology and Life Support Technology, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China; International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Hong Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China; Institute of Environmental Biology and Life Support Technology, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China; International Joint Research Center of Aerospace Biotechnology & Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China
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Tang Y, Dong W, Ai W, Zhang L, Li J, Yu Q, Guo S, Li Y. Design and establishment of a large-scale controlled ecological life-support system integrated experimental platform. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2021; 31:121-130. [PMID: 34689944 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A Controlled Ecological Life-Support System (CELSS) can meet the demands of food, oxygen, and water for human, as well as providing psychological benefits during deep space exploration by the continuous materials regeneration. Many key techniques of the platform are needed to explore before applying to the extraterrestrial planets. In this study, a large-scale CELSS integrated experimental platform was designed and constructed to meet the basic life-support material demands of six crew members (max). The platform was composed of four kinds of cabins including Crew Cabin (CC), Plant Cabin (PC), Life-Support Cabin (LSC), Resource Recycling Cabin (RRC) and affiliated facilities. Eight cabins were involved in the platform, i.e., CCs I and II, PCs I, II, III and IV, LSC, and RRC. The platform involved 15 subsystems and covered a plant culture area of 206.6 m2 (a max extensible area of 260 m2) and a total volume of 1340 m3. The joint debuggings and the 4-subject 180-day CELSS integration experiment were carried out successfully. The material closures were 55% (on average) for food (70.8% in highly efficient production period), 100% for atmospheric regeneration, 100% for water regeneration, and 87.7% for recycled solid waste in the 4-subject 180-day integration experiment. It verified that the indicators of the platform meet the technical requirements and realize food regeneration, air regeneration and water regeneration through the integration of physico-chemical technique and biological technique for the long-term survivals of six crew members in the closed cabins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongkang Tang
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing 100094, PR China.
| | - Wenping Dong
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing 100094, PR China.
| | - Weidang Ai
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing 100094, PR China.
| | - Liangchang Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing 100094, PR China.
| | - Jialian Li
- Space Institute of Southern China, Shenzhen 518117, PR China.
| | - Qingni Yu
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing 100094, PR China.
| | - Shuangsheng Guo
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing 100094, PR China.
| | - Yinghui Li
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training Center, Beijing 100094, PR China.
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Jin X, Ai W, Li C, Zhang L, Yu Q, Tang Y, Dong W. Operation overview of a biological waste treatment system during the 4-crew 180-day integrated experiment in the controlled ecological life support system (CELSS). LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2021; 29:15-21. [PMID: 33888283 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2021.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Waste management and treatment is vital to health care and material circulation, especially in the Controlled Ecological Life Support System (CELSS) with finite resources for long-duration manned space missions. A closed ecological-cycle integrated 4-crew 180-day experiment platform was established to investigate the key technologies such as effective cultivation of higher plant, water treatment and recycling, waste management and treatment. In this study, generated waste during the integrated experiment was classified as renewable and non-renewable waste. The renewable waste including all crew feces and part of inedible plant biomass were treated in a biological system where the aerobic composting technology was utilized. The performance in relation to degradation effect, phytotoxicity and nutrient evaluation was examined during the continuous 180 days. The long-term operation results displayed that 96.26 kg feces and 74.4 kg wheat straw were treated, and 90.6 kg compost product was discharged in nine batches. The microbial community variation was analyzed and Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria enriched in the compost. The phytotoxicity of compost was examined by seed germination index (GI) and GI of Chinese cabbage ranged from 88% to 132% for all batches. Compared to grown in vermiculite only, the lettuce yield increased 19% when grown in a mixture of vermiculite and processed compost. The summary of this work will be helpful to facilitate future applications of aerobic composting technology as the bio-based waste treatment technology in CELSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangdan Jin
- Space Science and Technology Institute (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518117, China; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Weidang Ai
- Space Science and Technology Institute (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518117, China; National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training center, Beijing 100094, China.
| | - Chengxian Li
- Space Science and Technology Institute (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518117, China
| | - Liangchang Zhang
- Space Science and Technology Institute (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518117, China; National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training center, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Qingni Yu
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training center, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Yongkang Tang
- National Key Laboratory of Human Factors Engineering, China Astronaut Research and Training center, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Wenyi Dong
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
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