Compact Integrated Sorting Technology for Oxygen and Regolith Treatment (CISORT)

Cislune Inc., in collaboration with Dr. Philip Metzger from the University of Central Florida, proposes CISORT, a lunar regolith processing technology for NASA’s SBIR Phase I. CISORT employs vibrational sorting and magnetic separation to efficiently isolate high-purity materials from lunar soil, crucial for In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU). This scalable solution aligns with NASA’s Z12.03 solicitation, aiming for lunar mining advancements and CLPS mission compatibility. CISORT’s core innovation combines vibrational sorting with magnetic separation, optimizing oxygen, water, and metal extraction from lunar regolith, particularly from the Moon’s immature highlands. The system is compact, designed for the lunar environment, and adaptable, enabling foundational ISRU process testing. Key components include vibrational size sorting, leveraging the Brazil nut effect and density variations, magnetic separation for valuable mineral concentration, and density-based beneficiation for enhanced separation purity. CISORT offers advantages over existing ISRU technologies with its enhanced efficiency, compact design, and scalability, supporting sustainable lunar exploration and a lunar economy. The technology, developed on solid scientific principles with expert guidance from Dr. Metzger, is a leap in ISRU capabilities, designed to reduce reliance on Earth-supplied materials and support NASA’s vision for a sustainable human presence on the Moon.