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Long-term space missions, such as a flight to Mars, require improved methods of disposal and processing of all kinds of waste. Scientists at Clemson University are considering converting carbon dioxide and urine into essential nutrients and even materials for 3D printing.
Each kilogram of additional weight increases the cost of flights, complicates the design of comic ships and increases the mass of fuel required. The research team led by Professor Blenner rightly believes that all these problems can be solved at least in part by recycling. While 3D printers are being tested on the ISS, space agencies are interested in the possibility of additive manufacturing of spare parts, tools and even organs on board spaceships and stations, Blenner and his colleagues are considering the possibility of producing nutrients and consumables for 3D printing. To do this, you can use not only inorganic waste, but also organic waste, including urine. You just need to "cheat" a little.
The idea is to use genetically modified Yarrowia lipolytica yeast. Blenner gives two interesting examples: the production of bioplastics and omega-3 fatty acids with the help of a fungus, while cleaning the living space of carbon dioxide and containers of urine. Actually, the urine itself can be passed through a water treatment plant, as is done on the ISS. The result is actually distilled water, which is drinkable, although it is mainly used for technical purposes. But the remainder can be used as a raw material for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a type of biopolymer. PHA is often accumulated by microorganisms as an intracellular energy store.
The yeast Yarrowia lipolytica also has the ability to synthesize and accumulate PHA. You just need to provide them with sources of carbon and nitrogen. There is just enough nitrogen in the urine, and carbon can be taken directly from the air, or rather carbon dioxide. But yeast cannot process carbon dioxide, so they need helpers to break it down, for example, photosynthetic cyanobacteria or algae. So, at the entrance we use carbon dioxide and urine, and at the exit we get clean water, oxygen and materials for 3D printing the necessary parts and devices! Separately, it should be noted that scientists are developing yeast cultures capable of creating various monomers, from which polyesters with different properties can then be synthesized.
Equally important, yeast can simultaneously generate physiologically essential omega-3 fatty acids that are not produced by the human body and are obtained exclusively from food and in the form of nutritional supplements. The shelf life of such additives does not exceed a couple of years, and therefore during long-distance flights they will have to be produced directly on board the ship. But even if humanity is not destined to master deep space, the idea of synthesizing biopolymers and omega-3 fatty acids will come in handy on Earth: bioplastics will help reduce dependence on oil and gas and improve the ecological situation, and omega-3 fatty acids will be useful not only for people, but also in aquaculture.
