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At least 1,081 records · Page 60

Cryogenic Oxygen Storage Modules with Carbon Dioxide Sequestration for Environmental Control and Life Support Applications

NASA Kennedy Space Center engineers developed a Cryogenic Oxygen Storage Module (COSM) to store oxygen in solid-state form and deliver it as a gas to an end-use environmental control and/or life support system. Additionally, the COSM can scrub out nuisance or containment gases such as carbon dioxide and/or water vapor in conjunction with supplying oxygen, forming a synergistic system when used in a closed-loop application. Closed-loop life support systems require both oxygen supply and removal of toxic or nuisance gases such as CO2 from the breathing loop. In most deployed systems, these two requirements are accomplished independently. COSM combines these capabilities to work simultaneously which may allow for reduced system volume, mass, complexity and cost of a rebreathing device.

Jeffrey A Kohler↗

A Ground-Based Network for Improved Validation of Satellite Carbon Dioxide and Methane Observations Over the Eastern United States

Satellite observations of greenhouse gases (GHGs), notably carbon dioxide and methane, over the Eastern United States, are currently only validated indirectly and/or sporadically. There are only four existing routine, ground-based remote sensing locations in the United States suitable for validation of satellite GHG observations: Edwards and Pasadena, CA, Lamont, OK, and Park Falls, WI as part of the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON). Among other efforts, e.g. the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC) and EM27/SUN deployments led by the University of Toronto, the only sites west of the Mississippi River are Park Falls, WI and Toronto, ON. The only remaining validation tools, vicarious calibration and airborne campaigns, are sporadic in space and/or time and thus coincide with only a small subsample of available soundings and conditions. As a result, satellite GHG observations over the east coast of the United States, home to more than half of its population, lack a consistent, widespread means of validation. We describe an ongoing effort to position 8 EM27/SUN spectrometers along the Eastern Seaboard over the next two years. The goals of this effort are to improve both satellite validation and our understanding of human and natural influences on the carbon cycle of the Eastern US, the former enabling the latter. This work is intended to augment past, ongoing, and future inter-agency programs, e.g., the NIST Urban Testbed, routine aircraft and aircore sampling by NOAA, and NASA’s Atmospheric Carbon and Transport (ACT)-America sub-orbital campaign, in particular by offering information on broader time and spatial scales than what is already available while maintaining the high-accuracy constraints of in situ data. We will present early analysis including siting considerations to capture local and/or background conditions and comparison to NASA’s Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) modeling and assimilation systems. This includes a 40-day, 3-km horizontal resolution global simulation of early 2020 and a 50-km retrospective analysis of Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 (OCO-2) observations over 2015-present. Both are valuable tools for analyzing expected and observed signals and are useful boundary conditions for yet higher-resolution studies.

Brad Weir↗

Effect of Carbon Dioxide Exposure on Physical and Cognitive Performance in A Simulated Spaceflight Contingency Scenario

INTRODUCTION: Carbon dioxide (CO2) produced by astronauts inside space suits can accumulate to levels that may affect health and performance. The human health and performance risks associated with different levels of CO2 exposure in the flight environment remain an area of debate. The purpose of this study is to characterize the limit of acceptable performance (cognitive and physical) decrements and symptom severity for mission operations when subjected to elevated inspired CO2 levels in simulated contingency lunar extravehicular activity (EVA) scenarios. METHODS: This study will create a simulation of a 1-hour, ~2km contingency EVA walk back to a habitat, incorporating a passive treadmill and a fully immersive virtual reality (VR) simulation of a lunar EVA environment. Subjects will be asked to walk on a treadmill while breathing partial pressures of CO2 of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30mmHg for 1 hour at a time. Cognitive performance will be quantified using validated cognitive tests and measures of functional task performance embedded within the VR environment. Test subject symptoms and self-assessment of performance will be evaluated via survey. RESULTS: This study currently has approval from NASA’s Institutional Review Board and has completed the Test Readiness Review process. Next steps for this research study include test subject recruitment, data collection, and analysis. Data collection is planned for calendar year 2023 and 2024. DISCUSSION: This study will provide valuable information regarding how various partial pressures of CO2 exposure impact acute health, as well as cognitive and physical performance during simulated contingency lunar EVA. This information will enable assessment of health and performance risk associated with spacesuit systems and operations concepts for future exploration missions as well as informing definition of future standards and requirements.

D. M. Nusbaum↗

High-Resolution Mapping of Nitrogen Oxide Emissions in Large US Cities From TROPOMI Retrievals of Tropospheric Nitrogen Dioxide Columns

Satellite-derived spatiotemporal patterns of nitrogen oxide (NO x ) emissions can improve accuracy of emission inventories to better support air quality and climate research and policy studies. In this study, we develop a new method by coupling the chemical transport Model-Independent SATellite-derived Emission estimation Algorithm for Mixed-sources (MISATEAM) with a divergence method to map high-resolution NO x emissions across US cities using TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) retrievals. The accuracy of the coupled method is validated through application to synthetic NO 2 observations from the NASA-Unified Weather Research and Forecasting (NU-WRF) model, with a horizontal spatial resolution of 4 km × 4 km for 33 large and mid-size US cities. Validation reveals excellent agreement between inferred and NU-WRF-provided emission magnitudes (R= 0.99, normalized mean bias, NMB = −0.01) and a consistent spatial pattern when comparing emissions for individual grid cells (R=0.88 ± 0.06). We then develop a TROPOMI-based database reporting annual emissions for 39 US cities at a horizontal spatial resolution of 0.05° × 0.05° from 2018 to 2021. This database demonstrates a strong correlation (R= 0.90) with the National Emission Inventory (NEI) but reveals some bias (NMB = −0.24). There are noticeable differences in the spatial patterns of emissions in some cities. Our analysis suggests that uncertainties in TROPOMI-based emissions and potential misallocation of emissions and/or missing sources in bottom-up emission inventories both contribute to these differences.

NOx emissions↗

Xplo-SA9T: Optimization of Sorbent Technology With Existing and New Amine Variants for Carbon Dioxide Removal and Humidity Control

Scrubbing of the spacesuit air stream to control humidity and regulate carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) relies on amine-loaded resins, colloquially known as sorbents. The efficacy of Rapid Cycle Amine technology relies on the propensity of nitrogens toward adsorption of CO 2 while simultaneously offering regenerative properties under vacuum or positive pressure. The commonly utilized sorbent, SA9T, was recreated and evaluated further to increase stability and serve as a benchmark comparison for newly synthesized amine sorbent technologies. Ongoing storage studies with eight different environments will allow the development of applicable storage protocols and provide insight into possible ammonia generation pathways. Attempts to alleviate the known issues with SA9T included the alteration of the primary amine (tetraethylenepentamine), the choice of resin, and the particle size distribution. In-house CO 2 breakthrough experiments were conducted using a specialized apparatus that can simulate spacesuit conditions, offering high-quality triplicate capacity analysis affording direct comparison to known adsorbents in the literature. Thermo-Desorption Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry studies on the synthesized materials revealed any reagent or solvent offgassing while Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy tracked the stability of the bound amine. Scanning Electron Microscope images of sieved materials provided a more accurate size interpretation facilitating synthetic design and pressure drop elimination. All efficient sorbents were synthesized to a commercial batch scale subsequent to evaluation including Xplo-SA9T.

John R Tidwell↗

Satellite Remote-Sensing Capability to Assess Tropospheric-Column Ratios of Formaldehyde and Nitrogen Dioxide: Case Study During the Long Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study 2018 (LISTOS 2018) Field Campaign

Satellite retrievals of tropospheric-column formaldehyde (HCHO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) are frequently used to investigate the sensitivity of ozone (O 3 ) production to emissions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic carbon compounds. This study inter-compared the systematic biases and uncertainties in retrievals of NO 2 and HCHO, as well as resulting HCHO–NO 2 ratios (FNRs), from two commonly applied satellite sensors to investigate O 3 production sensitivities (Ozone Monitoring Instrument, OMI, and TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument, TROPOMI) using airborne remote-sensing data taken during the Long Island Sound Tropospheric Ozone Study 2018 between 25 June and 6 September 2018. Compared to aircraft-based HCHO and NO 2 observations, the accuracy of OMI and TROPOMI were magnitude-dependent with high biases in clean environments and a tendency towards more accurate comparisons to even low biases in moderately polluted to polluted regions. OMI and TROPOMI NO 2 systematic biases were similar in magnitude (normalized median bias, NMB = 5 %–6 %; linear regression slope ≈ 0.5–0.6), with OMI having a high median bias and TROPOMI resulting in small low biases. Campaign-averaged uncertainties in the three satellite retrievals (NASA OMI; Quality Assurance for Essential Climate Variables, QA4ECV OMI; and TROPOMI) of NO 2 were generally similar, with TROPOMI retrievals having slightly less spread in the data compared to OMI. The three satellite products differed more when evaluating HCHO retrievals. Campaign-averaged tropospheric HCHO retrievals all had linear regression slopes ∼0.5 and NMBs of 39 %, 17 %, 13 %, and 23 % for NASA OMI, QA4ECV OMI, and TROPOMI at finer (0.05° x 0.05°) and coarser (0.15° x 0.15°) spatial resolution, respectively. Campaign-averaged uncertainty values (root mean square error, RMSE) in NASA and QA4ECV OMI HCHO retrievals were ~9.0 x 10 15 molecules cm –2 (∼ 50 %–55 % of mean column abundance), and the higher-spatial-resolution retrievals from TROPOMI resulted in RMSE values ∼30 % lower. Spatially averaging TROPOMI tropospheric-column HCHO, along with NO 2 and FNRs, to resolutions similar to the OMI reduced the uncertainty in these retrievals. Systematic biases in OMI and TROPOMI NO 2 and HCHO retrievals tended to cancel out, resulting in all three satellite products comparing well to observed FNRs. However, while satellite-derived FNRs had minimal campaign-averaged median biases, unresolved errors in the indicator species did not cancel out in FNR calculations, resulting in large RMSE values compared to observations. Uncertainties in HCHO retrievals were determined to drive the unresolved biases in FNR retrievals.

Matthew S. Johnson↗

Minimized cyanobacterial microcompartment for carbon dioxide fixation

A fusion chimeric protein is described herein that can assemble a functional carboxysome core, which is able to fix carbon by taking atmospheric carbon dioxide and converting it into useful carbon-containing compounds such as 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Method and system for treatment of a gas stream that contains carbon dioxide

A method for separating carbon dioxide (CO2) from a gas stream is disclosed, in which the gas stream is reacted with a lean aminosilicone solvent in an absorber, resulting in a rich aminosilicone solvent that is then treated in a desorber to release the CO2 and regenerate lean aminosilicone solvent in a desorption reaction. The regenerated solvent is directed into a steam-producing, indirect heat exchanger that is configured to supply steam to the desorber at a temperature high enough to augment the desorption reaction. Also, selected amounts of make-up water are added to the rich aminosilicone solvent at one or more process locations between the absorber and the desorber, to lower the viscosity of the solvent and to lower the temperature required for the desorption reaction.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Guanidine compounds for removal of oxyanions from aqueous solutions and for carbon dioxide capture

Methods for removing oxyanions from water according to the following steps: (i) dissolving an oxyanion precipitating compound into the aqueous source to result in precipitation of an oxyanion salt of the oxyanion precipitating compound; and (ii) removing the oxyanion salt from the water containing the oxyanion to result in water substantially reduced in concentration of the oxyanion; wherein the oxyanion precipitating compound has the following composition: wherein A is a ring-containing moiety and Xm− is an anionic species with a magnitude of charge m. The invention employs bis-iminoguanidinium compounds according to Formula (1a) as well as neutral precursor compounds according to Formula (1), which can be used for removing undesirable species from aqueous solutions or air, such as removal of sulfate from water and carbon dioxide from air.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Adjusting the pH of a pretreatment solution using carbon dioxide useful for integrating saccharification and fermentation

The present invention provides for a method of fermenting or saccharifying a biomass comprising: (a) (i) contacting a biomass comprising a polysaccharide, and an ionic liquid (IL) to form a first solution, or (ii) providing the first solution comprising the biomass and the IL, (b) contacting the first solution and carbon dioxide such that the first solution results in a lower pH, (c) introducing (i) an enzyme capable of enzymatically to breakdown at least one bond in the polysaccharide or a breakdown product of the polysaccharide, and/or (ii) a microorganism that capable of producing the enzyme and/or fermenting the polysaccharide or a breakdown product of the polysaccharide, such that the polysaccharide is at least partially broken down and the first solution is transformed into a second solution.

Sun, Jian↗

Carbon supported single atom carbon dioxide reduction electro catalysts

Electrocatalysts composed of single atoms dispersed over porous carbon support were prepared by a lithium-melt method. The new catalysts demonstrated high selectivity, high Faradic efficiency and low overpotential toward to the electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to fuels.

Liu, Di-Jia↗

Polyamine phosphorus dendrimer materials for carbon dioxide capture

The present disclosure provides novel solid sorbents synthesized by the reaction of polyamines with polyaldehyde phosphorous dendrimer (P-dendrimer) compounds. The sorbents are highly stable and exhibit rapid reaction kinetics with carbon dioxide, making the sorbents applicable for carbon capture, and can be easily regenerated for further use. The material is stable to aqueous and organic media, as well as strong acid and bases. The sorbent maintains full capacity over extended use. The material can be used for CO2 capture from pure CO2 streams, mixed gas streams, simulated flue gas, and ambient air. Additionally, the material can be adhered to surfaces for reversible CO2 capture applications outside of bulk particle-based processes.

Thompson, III, Samuel John↗

Carbon dioxide capture system and method with mass transfer contactor

A carbon dioxide capture system, fluid contactor and method are disclosed. In embodiments, a gas-liquid contactor unit is disposed along a process fluid flow axis and includes a contactor network of flow diversion barriers with flow voids for movement of process fluids therebetween. A plurality of heat exchange channels are provided in the flow diversion barriers to transport a heat exchange fluid through the contactor network. A heat exchange feed channel is provided to deliver feed of the heat exchange fluid to the heat exchange channels at multiple feed locations spaced along the flow axis. At least one heat exchange bypass channel may extend beyond the multiple feed locations to deliver a portion of the feed of the heat exchange fluid to additional heat exchange channels located downstream from the multiple feed locations for the heat exchange channels.

Panaccione, Charles↗

Hazmat Incident in New Mexico: Sulfur Dioxide Alarm

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) is a multimission laboratory located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is one of three National Nuclear Security Administration research and development laboratories located in the United States. Recently, SNL’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) responded to an incident involving a sulfur dioxide (SO2)-fixed monitor, setting off the alarm inside a laboratory and in the adjacent hallway. The potential sources for the alarm were various experiments involving batteries and an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) in the immediate area.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Carbon dioxide treatment of cathodes

A method for producing water resistant cathodes is discussed. The method uses mixing cathode powder with solid carbon dioxide to create a mixture and heating the mixture to a temperature. The heating occurs for a time sufficient to cause lithium carbonate coatings to form on the powder. A method for coating lithium-containing cathode surfaces is also discussed. This method uses simultaneously sublimating solid CO 2 and condensing atmospheric water vapor onto surfaces. Afterwards allowing the lithium to react with the sublimated CO 2 for a time sufficient to create a lithium carbonate film on the surface.

Kahvecioglu, Ozgenur↗