Bioelectrochemical degradation of urea at platinized boron doped diamond electrodes for bioregenerative systems

The recovery of potable water from space mission wastewater is critical for the life support and environmental health of crew members in long-term missions. NASA estimates reveal that at manned space missions 1.91 kg/person day of urine is produced, with urea and various salts as its main components. In this research we explore the utilization of urease (EC 3.5.1.5, 15,000 U/g) along with a platinized boron doped diamond electrode (Pt-BDD) to degrade urea. Urea is directly degraded to nitrogen by the in situ utilization of the reaction products as a strategy to increase the amount of clean water in future space expeditions. The biochemical reaction of urease produces ammonia and carbon dioxide from urea. Thereafter, ammonia is electrooxidized at the interface of the Pt-BDD producing molecular nitrogen. The herein presented system has been proven to have 20% urea conversion efficiency. This research has potential applications for future long-term space missions since the reaction byproducts could be used for a biomass subsystem (in situ resource recovery), while generating electricity from the same process.     

以溶解称量法研究包膜控释尿素的氮素释放规律

研究和应用控释肥料在实现高产、高效、环保的现代农业方面意义重大。制备了桐油包膜控释尿素,以溶解称量法测定和分析了包膜控释尿素的氮素释放规律,着重讨论了控释包膜材料组成对控释尿素氮素释放规律和控释性能的影响。结果表明,所制备的包膜尿素控释性能优良,达到日本等国控释肥标准。随着样品中桐油和滑石粉的含量增加,控释尿素的初期溶出率减小,微分溶出率下降。提高增塑剂、或活性剂、或疏水剂的比例,控释尿素的初期溶出率降低,微分溶出率会升高。催化剂对样品养分释放速率的影响比较复杂。