Halogen Binding Resins for Potable Water Disinfection

Disinfection of potable water, using a simple yet reliable approach is vital for continuing a manned presence in space.nbsp; Maintaining an antimicrobial residual is crucial for assuring water potability.nbsp; The Halogen Binding Resin (HBR) technology is directed toward developing halogen (chlorine or bromine) based water disinfection using an approach that resembles that currently used for iodine delivery.nbsp; The aim of the research is to develop flow-through devices containing a novel HBR for the controlled release of halogen for water disinfection.nbsp; Previous materials that bind chlorine and bromine fall short of meeting NASArsquo;s biocide residual needs. Successful syntheses of two slow-release resins during the Phase I effort should be expanded upon.nbsp; Both of these resins function exceptionally well for bromine slow-release, however, our initial attempts to develop a resin for the slow-release of chlorine have been unsuccessful.nbsp; Although a continued effort to develop a chlorine based resin will be ongoing, a bromine based resin may be well suited to NASArsquo;s needs.nbsp; Bromine has been adopted by the US NAVY as their primary means of disinfecting potable water aboard naval vessels.nbsp; Our resin will be used in a simple flow-through cartridge that will act as both a contact kill biocide device and as a source of free chlorine or bromine.nbsp; A halogen residual of 0.5 to 4 mg/L will be delivered to the water.nbsp; This concentration range is generally accepted as being safe and therefore removal is not required prior to crew consumption.nbsp; The residual concentration will remain within this range over a wide range of flows.nbsp; This Halogen Binding Resin will be entirely analogous to the original MCVreg; resin but will release chlorine or bromine instead of iodine.nbsp; The next generation Microbial Check Valve (MCV2) made with this resin can be used as a direct replacement for the currently used MCVreg;.