U of M gets NASA grant to turn urine into drinking water
By: Sara Patterson
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: Other Stories
Astronauts need to recycle urine and fecal matter to create more drinking water, and one U of M professor received a grant from NASA this summer to continue working on purification devices.
"It would be better if I could turn lead into gold," said Gary Emmert, chemistry professor.
Local news outlets have recently jumped on the story, because astronauts will soon be taking a device with them to the space station that purifies the water made from urine, sweat, fecal matter and the air.
"We find it fascinating what the astronauts will go through to push the frontiers of space exploration," said Emmert, explaining why this subject has come to the forefront of the media.
It costs $14,000 per pound to put something in orbit, and the eight pound gallons of water are one of the most limiting factors for the number of personnel that can be brought and sustained in space, said Emmert. With new long term projects in the works, like a two year mission to Mars, NASA is looking for a way to recycle waste and create drinkable water, and Professor Emmert beat out competition all over the state to get a $300,000 grant for his work.
Emmert is building a device he describes as a "lab in a shoebox" that will monitor water to make sure no microorganisms are present and also check for possible byproducts that disinfecting agents might create. One common byproduct of disinfected water is chloroform, a chemical compound made famous as a weapon in murder mysteries to knock out unsuspecting victims through inhalation.
Chloroform also has the potential to cause cancer, and NASA told Emmert they wanted to make sure any water ingested in space was as safe as water on the planet.
Another hope for Emmert is that his device will help the water taste better. Currently, the water sent up with the astronauts is disinfected with iodine, giving it a murky brown color and medicinal flavor. Emmert said long-term missions like an exploration of Mars would take a heavy psychological toll on astronauts. Fresh, good-tasting drinking water would provide comfort and relieve stress.
"It would be better if I could turn lead into gold," said Gary Emmert, chemistry professor.
Local news outlets have recently jumped on the story, because astronauts will soon be taking a device with them to the space station that purifies the water made from urine, sweat, fecal matter and the air.
"We find it fascinating what the astronauts will go through to push the frontiers of space exploration," said Emmert, explaining why this subject has come to the forefront of the media.
It costs $14,000 per pound to put something in orbit, and the eight pound gallons of water are one of the most limiting factors for the number of personnel that can be brought and sustained in space, said Emmert. With new long term projects in the works, like a two year mission to Mars, NASA is looking for a way to recycle waste and create drinkable water, and Professor Emmert beat out competition all over the state to get a $300,000 grant for his work.
Emmert is building a device he describes as a "lab in a shoebox" that will monitor water to make sure no microorganisms are present and also check for possible byproducts that disinfecting agents might create. One common byproduct of disinfected water is chloroform, a chemical compound made famous as a weapon in murder mysteries to knock out unsuspecting victims through inhalation.
Chloroform also has the potential to cause cancer, and NASA told Emmert they wanted to make sure any water ingested in space was as safe as water on the planet.
Another hope for Emmert is that his device will help the water taste better. Currently, the water sent up with the astronauts is disinfected with iodine, giving it a murky brown color and medicinal flavor. Emmert said long-term missions like an exploration of Mars would take a heavy psychological toll on astronauts. Fresh, good-tasting drinking water would provide comfort and relieve stress.