Ammonia Removal from Rodent Habitat Operations in Space Using Phosphoric Acid Treated Activated Carbon

Zhe Lu, Jacob A. Hines, Daniel J. Rozewicz, Michael L. Hines

Lockheed Martin Space OPNS, Moffett Field, USA.
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, USA.
University of California, Santa Barbara, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ajac.2013.412095                

Abstract

To accommodate long duration biology research with rodent habitats on the International Space Station while providing a healthy living and working environment for crewmembers, NASA Ames Research Center developed a new exhaust filter for odor control for the Animal Enclosure Module (AEM), which houses mice and rats. The new exhaust filter uses activated carbon pellets as adsorbents, with phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) impregnated on the surface. The deodorization performance of the new exhaust filters for AEM units housed with mice was evaluated. The ammonia breakthrough time of the exhaust filters was also investigated. The results indicated that H₃PO₄ treated activated carbon exhibited a high ammonia adsorption capacity of more than 90%. Furthermore, the new exhaust filter can effectively control the odor from the AEM units for a 45-day (minimum) flight mission with a given animal biomass.

Keywords

Activated Carbon; Impregnation; Adsorption; Ammonia; International Space Station

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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