UV Oxygen Concentration for Mars

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This design is based in more than five years of experimentation, which was originated by our aim to make the High UVI/RH coastal Peruvian desert.

Mars UVC & UVB at surface is assumed to be ~ 10 times Earth and UVA close to our planet values. This is a tremendous energy that can be used for a photochemical job. UVC & UVB flux in Mars is ~ 400 W/M2/day while in Earth is on average 40. For that energy, we use a brine soluble catalyst/susceptor made naturally from the Aloe plant (Aloin) Our discovery is that by decomposing the plant into their active ingredients,tos resist droughts, via making an H2O2/H2O bagged in a polysaccarides structure. In fact we have “deconstructed” the plant into their active mechanism, releasing it , via a CaC2 brine, from its architectural energy waste. AQs (Aloin) comes from the Aloe plants latex. Aloin is a anthraquinones glucoside which is water/brine soluble; has catalyst enzimes and can be dried by lyophilization and transported as a powder in Space ships.That does not exclude that Aloin, can be later replaced by Ag, Au, and maybe TiO2 Nps. (see graphic)

The process is explained in one graphic. The principle is that radiation (UV) inflicts the colloidal AQs (Aloin, a water soluble anthraquinone) generating solvated electrons, which out of water and dissolved O2 via , a built in soluble SOD (which is quite resistant to low temperatures) makes H2O2. When H2O2 is in a certain saturation point ; UV decomposes H2O2, generating O2 gas warming raising the temperature of solution via a communicating vessels , not letting it freeze (it can withstand temperatures, with proper formulation, ambient temperatures much under -40C)

Novelty. The proposed design is the use of Martian high UV as an in-situ energy resource for doing a photochemical job with local ingredients ( Water ice & Perchlorates) and the faint atmosphere in Mars that has ~ 1 Kg/MT of Oxygen. The concentrated O2 can be for human use, as well as i.e. controlled microatmosphere greenhouses. If properly designed ,can work unattended /accumulate O2.

Manufacturability. Materials (catalysts either natural or colloidal in powder form, PET or alike, fold-able containers that will require small space with low weight and few specially designed solar conventional driven compressor & pumps) are susceptible to be extracted/manufactured by well known technology in Earth to be carried in an space ship. All other materials (water & desiccants) are available in situ.

Marketability. Market is, in simple terms, the future; by making self sustaining Space ventures possible by using the cosmic radiation background vis a vis the scarce Oxygen resources. Compared with other alternatives, like extracting O2 from CO2 releasing CO in the Martian environment, is very respectful as well as unrisky.

We propose to harvest faint Oxygen resources in Mars making O2 micro atmospheres in Mars or alikes.

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  • ABOUT THE ENTRANT

  • Name:
    Pedro Flecha
  • Type of entry:
    individual
  • Profession:
    Engineer/Designer
  • Number of times previously entering contest:
    5
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