Lightweight, Reliable, and Efficient Water Recovery Using Treatment with Pressure-Driven Distillation, Biologically Activated Carbon, and UV Disinfection

OsmoPure Technologies reports the development of a combined pressure-driven distillation (PD), biologically activated carbon, and UV disinfection system for high-performance humidity condensate and urine treatment. Current water recovery technologies used in spaceflight are heavy, energy-intensive, and prone to degradation or clogging during dormancy. OsmoPure’s system addresses these limitations by combining lightweight, low-maintenance PD membranes with biologically activated carbon and UV disinfection. At the heart of the system is OsmoPure’s PD membrane module, which uses applied pressure to drive water through a chemically robust, highly selective membrane. This module achieves high removal of total organic carbon (including challenging contaminants like dimethylsilanediol), ions, and other impurities. Unlike conventional systems, PD membranes resist chemical degradation, allowing direct contact with stabilizing chemicals like Oxone®, hydrogen peroxide, and chromic acid. Their durability also permits cleaning with hydrogen peroxide after extended dormancy, ensuring long-term reliability. The system is powered by a simple high-pressure pump, making it energy-efficient and easy to operate. Following PD treatment, a biologically activated carbon module uses a high-surface-area substrate to foster microbial removal of volatile organic compounds. This biological module consistently reduces total organic carbon to less than 3 mg/L in product water. DNA sequencing provides insights into enzymatic pathways driving removal in humidity condensate and urine streams, as well as validation for the final disinfection step, which uses a flow-through UVLED (282 nm) system. The system meets TOC and microbial targets for potable water standards. We estimate it will weigh less than 12 kg to produce 285 kg of potable water from humidity condensate over a 30-day mission, offering reduced mass and energy consumption compared to existing systems. This system provides a lightweight, reliable, and efficient water recovery solution for both short- and long-term space missions.