Testing and Characterization of a Catalytic Oxidizer for Trace Contaminant Control

In this paper, we present the latest advancements in the development of the Catalytic Oxidizer (CatOx) for the Trash Compaction & Processing System (TCPS) designed for long-duration space missions. The TCPS is engineered to compress, safen, and dry crew-generated standard trash, recover and recycle water, and manage gaseous effluent produced during trash processing. During the high-temperature processing of trash, gaseous effluent containing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and other complex contaminants is emitted. To conserve valuable resources during flight, these gases are managed and recycled to minimize consumable losses. The CatOx, developed by Sierra Space, treats this contaminated gas, rendering it safe for reintroduction into the cabin environment by catalytically decomposing VOCs at high temperatures using a specially synthesized catalyst. The resulting gas outflows can be safely released into the cabin atmosphere or through other downstream systems. The TCPS CatOx operates effectively across diverse pressure ranges and can be adapted for other trace contaminant control applications in spaceflight. This paper details the testing of the CatOx using realistic trace contaminants, presenting data on its performance across a broad spectrum of operating conditions. Additionally, the characterization of the catalyst is discussed, including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), chemisorption, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. Performance measures such as destruction efficiency, thermal performance, and suitability for integration with other life-support systems are also evaluated to support the development of TCPS flight hardware.