Search Add a publication

ID No : 665   Edit
Title: Creating Methane from Plastic: Recycling at a Lunar Outpost
Summary / Review : "The high cost of re-supply from Earth demands resources to be utilized to the fullest extent for exploration missions. The ability to refuel on the lunar surface would reduce the vehicle mass during launch and provide excess payload capability. Recycling is a key technology that maximizes the available resources by converting waste products into useful commodities. One example of this is to convert crew member waste such as plastic packaging, food scraps, and human waste into fuel. This process thermally degrades plastic in the presence of oxygen producing CO2 and CO. The CO2 and CO are then reacted with hydrogen over catalyst (Sabatier reaction) producing methane. An end-to-end laboratory-scale system has been designed and built to produce methane from plastic, in this case polyethylene. This first generation system yields 12-16% CH4 by weight of plastic used." (Author's abstract)
Author(s) : Santiago-Maldonado, Edgardo; Captain, Janine; Devor, Robert; Gleaton, Jeremy, [Kennedy Space Center]
Publication Date: 2010
Category(s) : Transportation / Fuel propellants
Progress Type: A ( A=Analysis only, D=Design, T=Testing, C=Completed or Commercial product )
Web URL : http://hdl.handle.net/2060/20110008529
If this link is broken, please Add Comment below.
We try to keep author contact details, and a backup copy in our offline library.
PERMANENT code(s) : L,U
(Explanation of the
last 3 rows above)
In the row above, there are up to 4 possibilities:
U = URL you can click on to get a copy instantly from another source on the internet, or request it from that source
D = Downloadable from PERMANENT (such as because no other URL known...)
L = LAN copy, PERMANENT has a digital copy but not downloadable from our website
P = Paper copy in the PERMANENT office
Typically, only 0 to 3 methods are available.
NTRS : 20110008529
Other Ref # : KSC-2009-314
Submitted by : MEP
Comments: Please add your thoughtful Comments to this paper after reading it.
All comments are reviewed and approved before being posted publicly below.
If you wish to submit a private comment to the curator, instead of a public comment, just write "Private" at the start of your comment.
Corrections and suggested additions to our records are appreciated.
  Add Comment 
Add Comment     Green is public,     Pink is private.
Screen Name: Either real name or anonymous alias are OK.
Real Name and
optional info:

Please provide at least your real name, and optionally additional information.
Email Address: We keep your email address private.
Date - Time Sorry, just click on the field, then on the popup calendar click "Now" then "Done".
Your Comment: (if private to curator, then just start with "Private:" or something like that.)