Development of a Lightweight VOC Oxidation Catalyst for Spacecraft Trace Contaminant Control

Collins Aerospace has developed a novel lightweight volatile organic compounds (VOC) oxidation catalyst that addresses critical challenges in spacecraft trace contaminant control systems. This innovative catalyst demonstrates comparable catalytic performance over the current flight catalyst used in the Atmospheric Revitalization System (ARS), in addition to reduced mass, volume, and cost, while maintaining high VOC conversion efficiency. In addition to VOC conversion, the catalyst shows strong potential for ozone (O3) degradation and carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation, making it highly versatile for both environmental control and life support systems (ECLSS) aboard spacecraft applications. Efforts are ongoing to adapt the catalyst to monolith structures to enable higher space velocities and reduce pressure drop without sacrificing performance. A key focus is on the development of an optimized coating technique to ensure uniform catalytic activity across the substrate, which is critical for maximizing efficiency and reliability in operational environments. The findings presented will provide a new and original contribution to the state of the art in environmental systems, showcasing advancements in catalyst technology that can improve the sustainability and effectiveness of life support systems.