2024-01-16 21:05:00
Researchers explore liquid solvents to extract building materials from lunar and Martian rock dust
To make long-term space travel possible, researchers have begun exploring liquid solvents that might one day help extract essential building materials from lunar and Martian rock dust.
Using machine learning and computational modeling, researchers at theWashington State University have identified half a dozen good candidates for solvents capable of extracting materials usable in 3D printing on the Moon and Mars. The results of this research, led by Soumik Banerjee, associate professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Washington State University, were published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry B.
Powerful solvents, called ionic liquidsare salts in the liquid state.
« Machine learning work allowed us to move from the 20,000 foot level to the 1,000 foot level “, said Soumik Banerjee. “ We were able to quickly screen a large number of ionic liquids and then scientifically understand the most important factors that determine whether a solvent is able to dissolve the material or not. »
The Artemis mission (NASA) and the use of in situ resources
. To make such long-term missions possible, however, astronauts will need to utilize the materials and resources of these extraterrestrial environments, using 3D printing to make structures, tools or parts from essential elements extracted from the ground lunar or Martian.
« The use of in situ resources will be very important for NASA in the coming decades. Otherwise we would need an extremely high payload of materials to transport from Earth » added Soumik Banerjee.
View of the red planet – MARS
Ionic liquids as a potential solution
The acquisition of these construction materials must be done in an ecological and energy-efficient manner. The element extraction method cannot use water, which is not available on the Moon. THE ionic liquidswhich Banerjee’s group has been studying for more than a decade for use in batteries, might be the answer.
Testing each ionic liquid candidate in the lab is expensive and time-consuming, so the researchers used machine learning and atom-level modeling to narrow the number of candidates by hundreds of thousands. They looked for those that might digest lunar and Martian materials, extract important elements such as aluminum, magnesium and iron, regenerate and perhaps produce oxygen or water as a byproduct for help provide life support.
Identification of promising candidate solvents
By identifying the superior qualities that the solvents will need to possess, the researchers were able to find regarding half a dozen very strong candidates. Important factors for success included the size of the molecular ions that make up the salts, its surface charge density, which is the charge per unit surface area of the ions, and the mobility of the ions in liquids.
Working with researchers at the University of Colorado in a separate study, the researchers tested a few ionic liquids in the lab for their ability to dissolve compounds. They ultimately hope to build a laboratory- or pilot-scale reactor and test good candidate solvents with lunar regolith-like materials.
Synthetic
The research carried out by the Washington State University team opens up promising prospects for long-term space exploration. Using ionic liquids as solvents to extract essential construction materials from lunar and Martian rock dust might be a viable solution to supporting human life during extended space missions.
For a better understanding
What is an ionic liquid?
An ionic liquid is a salt in a liquid state. These powerful solvents are being studied for their potential to dissolve lunar and Martian materials.
Why are ionic liquids important for space exploration?
Ionic liquids might help extract essential building materials from lunar and Martian rock dust, crucial for supporting human life during extended space missions.
What is NASA’s Artemis mission?
NASA’s Artemis mission aims to return humans to the Moon and then send them into deep space to Mars and beyond.
The extraction of materials on the Moon and Mars must be carried out in an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient manner, and cannot use water, which is not available on the Moon.
What are the next steps for this research?
The researchers hope to test candidate solvents with lunar regolith-like materials in a laboratory-scale or pilot-scale reactor.
References
Banerjee, S. et al. (2024). Exploration of Ionic Liquids for Extracting Building Materials from Lunar and Martian Rock Dust. Journal of Physical Chemistry B. S0167732223011182
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