The life support system on the space station requires the extraction of humidity, airborne pathogen and pollutants from the air, prohibit it from becoming toxic to inhale. These sorbents or purifying agents typically lose their potency within a limited time frame, making it necessary for the filtration systems to be replaced regularly.

 As astronauts venture to explore locations father out into the solar system, the benefits of frequent replenishment of mission supplies will not be possible. It is hence necessary to consider the weight and space limitations associated with packing all the necessary supplies that will be required for such long term exploratory mission.

THE  PRIMARY  SOLUTION

The service lifetime of a sorbent material, depends on its surface area. The higher it is, the longer the system will last in its role of air purification. To resolve the issues of both space and weight, the surface area of the sorbent and or purifying materials needs to be substantially increased.

THE ESSENCE OF QUANTUM MATERIALS

Quantum materials, by virtue of their ultrafine nanoscopic scale, posses a much higher surface area than regular materials, which makes them more reactive and effective in performing their duty at very minute volumes. 

To put this into perspective; 1 kg of particles of 1 mm3 have the same surface area as 1 mg of nanoparticles of 1 nm3 . This means, to achieve the same gaseous sorbent goals as attained by 1kg of the regular 1  mm3 particles, only 1 mg of 1nm3 nanoparticles would be needed. 

The surface area of NANOARC's quantum materials range currently between 40 to 60 m²/g  while that of correspondent standard chemically similar materials used for the same air purification processes are typically in the 1 - 16 m²/g range or less.  For this reason, much smaller volumes of NANOARC's quantum materials can be used to achieve the same goals and extend the service life of filters used in pollutant adsorption.

This enables a substantially huge deduction in  both weight and space, thus creating more room for much needed payload and fuel savings, without compromising the quality air onboard. In fact, there will be much less need for replenishment and more filters made with NANOARC's quantum material nanopowders, can be easily stored for back up, should the need for their replacement arise. 

MITIGATING AIRBORNE PATHOGENS

Besides the higher surface area of quantum materials, they posses unique properties in the mitigation of harmful pathogens, that standard materials can not achieve: Quantum-effects enable anti-pathogenic activity in both illuminated and dark environments while regular nanomaterials and corresponding bulk systems require photoactivation, in order to perform the same duty. 

As filters do not necessarily operate in illuminated areas and space missions are not likely to be in well illuminated areas for extensive periods of time, materials that can mitigate airborne pathogens under such operational circumstances, are essential.

One thing is certain: the high surface area of quantum material nanocatalytic beds, will substantially extend the service lifetime of filters and enhance the efficacy air purification in life support systems for extensive space missions. 

Q-LHO

COLOUR : White Nanopowder

CO2 CAPTURE EFFECTIVE AT 24 -204 °C (DRY/HUMID SLURRY)  :  from ~  85 % efficiency

GAS CAPTURE : averaging from 1100 - 1958 cm3  of CO2 per gram of nanocatalyst

APPLICATIONS : Effective nano-sorbent for CO2 and absorbs more CO2 than its weight. Depending on crystal structure, Oxygen (O2) is released as a by-product.

DS - CAT PLUS *

SURFACE AREA (BET) : 63520 m²/kg

NANOARCHITECTURE :  Atomically Thin Sheets/Flakes ( < 1 nm Thickness)

COLOUR : White Nanopowder

DESULPHURISATION :  360 g of Sulphur per gram (0.035 oz) of nano-catalyst

BREAKTHROUGH TIME :  ~ 1 year (365 days) per 16 grams (0.56 oz.) of nano-catalyst

APPLICATIONS : Superior Hydrodesulfurization & Hydrodenitrogenation nanocatalyst, Stabilisation of asphaltene in oil under acidic conditions,  Enhanced UV blocking, Antibacterial & Anti-fungal in the dark, Acidity/Corrosion Inhibitor, Antifouling agent, Halogen-Free Flame retardant, CO and CO2 sorbent.

*The byproduct after Sulphur capture is reusable/remarketable and/or can be regenerated for further use. Contact us for consultancy/technical support.

DS - CAT *

SURFACE AREA (BET) :  41530 m²/kg

NANOARCHITECTURE : 5nm (0.005 μm) Spherical Nanoparticles 

COLOUR : White Nanopowder

DESULPHURISATION :  235.34 g of Sulphur per gram (0.035 oz) of nano-catalyst

BREAKTHROUGH TIME : ~ 1 year (365 days) per 25 grams (0.88 oz.) of nano-catalyst

APPLICATIONS : Hydrodesulfurization & Hydrodenitrogenation nanocatalyst, Stabilisation of asphaltene in oil under acidic conditions, UV blocking, Antibacterial & Anti-fungal in the dark, Acidity/Corrosion Inhibitor, Antifouling agent, Halogen-Free Flame retardant, CO and CO2 sorbent.

*The byproduct after Sulphur capture is reusable/remarketable and/or can be regenerated for further use. Contact us for consultancy/technical support.

CCO  - NANO-CATALYTIC FLUE GAS SCRUBBER*

SURFACE AREA (BET) : 38800 m²/kg

NANOARCHITECTURE : < 25 nm Spherical hollow nanoparticles 

COLOUR : White Nanopowder

DESULPHURISATION  :  220 g of Sulphur per gram (0.035 oz) of nano-catalyst

BREAKTHROUGH TIME :  ~ 1 year (365 days) per 31 grams ( 1.09 oz. )

APPLICATIONS : Nanocatalyst for flue gas desulphurisation eliminating harmful SO2 and NO2 . 

*The byproduct after SO2 capture is reusable/remarketable. Contact us for consultancy/technical support.

MAG - O

SURFACE AREA (BET) : 35930 m²/kg

COLOUR : White Nanopowder

APPLICATIONS : Effective biocide against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Bacillus megaterium) and bacterial spores (Bacillus subtillus). Absorption of halogens, low- and high-temperature corrosion inhibition. 

Effective nano-sorbent for propionaldehyde, benzaldehyde, ammonia, dimethylamine, N-nitrosodiethylamine and methanol.