Reagent Regenerative Microgravity Compatible Inorganic Ion Analyzer

There is limited capability for water quality analysis onboard current spacecraft. Several hardware failures have occurred onboard ISS which demonstrate the need for measurement of inorganic contaminants. Monitoring capability is of interest for identification and quantification of inorganic species in potable water, thermal control system cooling water, and human wastewater. Needed attributes for such multi-ion analyzers to be used in NASA manned space exploration missions include: minimal sample preparation, use of small sample volumes, little or no need for reagent resupply, instrument of minimum size and weight, high sensitivity, accuracy and reliability, in situ calibration, and operation in microgravity and partial gravity. Lynntech proposes to develop a reagent-regenerative, microgravity-compatible, compact-sized ion analyzer, which has desirable attributes of no sample preparation, low weight, small volume, high sensitivity, no reagent resupply, and operation in microgravity and partial gravity, which will impact the reduction of its equivalent system mass. In the Phase I Lynntech will demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach with a breadboard system. An automated prototype will be delivered to NASA during Phase II.