| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2024 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
2024 Technical Division Student Poster Contest
|
| Presentation Title |
SPG-7: Project Tethys: Extracting Water from the Martian Environment |
| Author(s) |
Lydia Ellen Tonani |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Lydia Ellen Tonani |
| Abstract Scope |
For many years, space organizations have studied and prepared for a crewed mission to Mars. Although scientists have found potential water sources on Mars in its mid-latitude’s subsurface or on its poles, the water is likely contaminated by perchlorate and other soluble salts. The absence of an abundant potable water supply is a fundamental obstacle to crew survival. Thus, this project aimed to develop a water treatment method that converts perchlorate brine into potable water. Progressive freeze concentration was determined to be the most promising method for separating water from the brine under Martian conditions. A prototype for Martian conditions was designed. Experiments used a one-molal magnesium perchlorate starting solution, and all experiments successfully produced a treated product of reduced salt concentration along with a residual brine of elevated salt concentration. Current work focuses on applying a theoretical understanding of directional solidification to improve the separation of water and salt. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |
| Keywords |
Extraction and Processing, Solidification, Other |