[Development of a ground-based experimental facility for space waste material processing with microorganism].
OBJECTIVE
To develop a ground-based experimental facility for microorganism waste processing, which will be used to recover nutrient from plant inedible biomass essential for growth and development of plants.


METHODS
After technical parameters and performance requirements were defined, planning demonstration, drawing design, fabrication, debug and plant inedible residue-biodegradation tests by microorganisms were conducted.


RESULTS
The facility worked well, and the parameters, such as energy consumption, volume and weight, met the design requirement. The water-treated quality and the ability of treating plant residual by microorganism were better than the demands. The ground-based results demonstrated that total organic carbon (TOC) degradation above 92.1%, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction over 95.5% could be maintained.


CONCLUSIONS
The facility has reasonable technical indexes, and smooth and reliable performances. Its major working principle is suitable for the demand of space conditions. It is capable of being utilized for biodegradation of plant inedible biomass in space.
Ai
Wei-dang
WD
Institute of Space Medico-engineering, Beijing, China. aiweidang@126.com
Guo
Shuang-sheng
SS
Wang
Xiao-xia
XX
Fu
Lan
L
D001234:Aspergillus niger; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D003470:Culture Media; D018504:Ecological Systems, Closed; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D008021:Life Support Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009089:Mucor; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae; D013026:Space Flight / Q000295:instrumentation; D018505:Waste Management / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
D003470:Culture Media; D002244:Carbon; D010100:Oxygen