A mission to Mars could make its own oxygen with plasma technology

EdwardHeisler · 2017-10-19 07:38:33

A mission to Mars could make its own oxygen thanks to plasma technology
by Staff Writers
Mars Daily
Washington DC (SPX) Oct 19, 2017

Plasma technology could hold the key to creating a sustainable oxygen supply on Mars, a new study has found.
It suggests that Mars, with its 96 per cent carbon dioxide atmosphere, has nearly ideal conditions for creating oxygen from CO2 through a process known as decomposition.

Published in the journal Plasma Sources Science and Technology, the research by the universities of Lisbon and Porto, and Ecole Polytechnique in Paris, shows that the pressure and temperature ranges in the Martian atmosphere mean non-thermal (or non-equilibrium) plasma can be used to produce oxygen efficiently.

Lead author Dr Vasco Guerra, from the University of Lisbon, said: "Sending a manned mission to Mars is one of the next major steps in our exploration of space. Creating a breathable environment, however, is a substantial challenge.

"Plasma reforming of CO2 on Earth is a growing field of research, prompted by the problems of climate change and production of solar fuels. Low temperature plasmas are one of the best media for CO2 decomposition - the split-up of the molecule into oxygen and carbon monoxide - both by direct electron impact, and by transferring electron energy into vibrational excitation."

Mars has excellent conditions for In-Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU) by plasma. As well as its CO2 atmosphere, the cold surrounding atmosphere (on average about 210 Kelvin) may induce a stronger vibrational effect than that achievable on Earth. The low atmospheric temperature also works to slow the reaction, giving additional time for the separation of molecules.
Dr Guerra said: "The low temperature plasma decomposition method offers a twofold solution for a manned mission to Mars. Not only would it provide a stable, reliable supply of oxygen, but as source of fuel as well, as carbon monoxide has been proposed as to be used as a propellant mixture in rocket vehicles.

"This ISRU approach could help significantly simplify the logistics of a mission to Mars. It would allow for increased self-sufficiency, reduce the risks to the crew, and reduce costs by requiring fewer vehicles to carry out the mission."

JoshNH4H · 2017-10-19 09:10:23

Link?

Antius · 2017-10-19 09:13:54

A plasma arc will break down gases into constituent components due to a combination of ionisation and thermal decomposition. But a lot of energy is lost from a plasma arc as radiation and as thermal energy in the expelled gases. Also, the electrodes are subject to erosion. You then need to separate the oxygen from the CO and CO2. Would that require some kind of cryogenic fractionation?

elderflower · 2017-10-19 09:39:37

Gas diffusion through a selective membrane, compression and liquefaction or selective adsorption can all separate gas mixtures quite satisfactorily. Any residual CO in the Oxygen product can be catalytically oxidised to CO2.

EdwardHeisler · 2017-10-19 09:55:09

Here's the article link.

http://www.marsdaily.com/reports/Solar_ … s_999.html

SpaceNut · 2017-10-19 17:00:35

Lots of links from this search on the related Co2 plasma decomposition
https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=c … mp=yhs-003

Void · 2019-04-25 12:06:51

The other members already had a look at this some time ago it looks like. A very interesting option.

This appears to be a knock off on Edwards original link, but I will put it here.
https://phys.org/news/2017-10-mission-m … ology.html

While I was searching for greater understanding, I ran across quite a few Plasma Reforming methods apparently used on Earth, where they use CO2 and CH4 as the feed stock and can generate quite a few chemicals of potential interest.

It also appears that something like this, perhaps a hotter process can gasify municipal waste and leave behind some kind of "Slag".

As I said I don't know enough about this yet.

Here is one that suggests that some liquid chemicals can be generated directly from CO2 and CH4. (Methane).

https://phys.org/news/2017-10-breakthro … fuels.html
Quote:

In a paper published in chemistry journal Angewandte Chemie they report a very unique plasma synthesis process for the direct, one-step activation of carbon dioxide and methane into higher value liquid fuels and chemicals (e.g. acetic acid, methanol, ethanol and formaldehyde) with high selectivity at ambient conditions (room temperature and atmospheric pressure).
This is the first time this process has been shown, as it is a significant challenge to directly convert these two stable and inert molecules into liquid fuels or chemicals using any single-step conventional (e.g. catalysis) processes bypassing high temperature, energy intensive syngas production process and high pressure syngas processing for chemical synthesis.
The one-step room-temperature synthesis of liquid fuels and chemicals from the direct reforming of CO2 with CH4 was achieved by using a novel atmospheric-pressure non-thermal plasma reactor with a water electrode and a low energy input.

I have notions of how useful this could be on Mars. Of course for Starship Methane is intended to be manufactured anyway. But, there may be a layer of ice emitting Methane on Mars. It would be hard to not see how useful it could be to get access to that Methane and the CO2 in the atmosphere, and synthesize many desired chemicals.

METHANE ON MARS:
https://phys.org/news/2019-04-scientist … -mars.html
Quote:

The most likely source was a sheet of frozen methane beneath a rock formation, which the team believes periodically ejects the gas into the atmosphere.

If this Methane can be accessed in that place and perhaps in other places on Mars, not only all the chemicals that can result, but of course you can burn Methane in Oxygen, and get water as a result. I do think that where there is Methane, there is likely to be deep brines however. But that could indicate chemicals from the brines, should the brine exist in an way that can be accessed.

I really do think that if the Methane can be accessed (And if it really exists), that this could be the location to put down roots first. And to top it off there are sandstone deposits in Gale Crater at least. Very likely I expect, that sandstone and mudstone will exist over the Methane, if it does exist. And of course Sandstone is something to build things out of. Sandstone blocks, and perhaps underground homes in the sandstone.

Done.

Last edited by Void (2019-04-25 12:28:16)

tahanson43206 · 2024-12-04 18:28:39

For Void .... I found this topic from years ago, while searching (again) for topics with oxygen in the title.

This topic seems to be about plasma as a way of pulling oxygen from CO2.

I'm curious if you know if there is a difference between this method and the one you found recently.

Are people rediscovering the same thing, over and over?

(th)

tahanson43206 · 2024-12-04 20:36:05

In a recent post in another topic, Void showed us a link to research on how to use an electron beam to split CO2 ...

I asked Google for any additional information it could find, and it came back with quite a collection of snippets.
It remains for NewMars members to dig into all this material to see if there is anything there, or if it is all just hype.

Research exploring the use of an electron beam to separate oxygen from carbon in CO2 on Mars primarily focuses on plasma reactor technology where a beam of high-energy electrons is used to split carbon dioxide molecules into their constituent parts, producing oxygen as a result; this approach is considered a promising method for generating breathable oxygen on Mars due to the planet's primarily CO2 atmosphere.
Key points about this research:
Mechanism:
When an electron beam interacts with CO2 molecules within a plasma reactor, it excites the molecules, causing them to break apart into oxygen and carbon components.
Potential benefits:
Oxygen production on Mars: This method could potentially provide a way to generate breathable oxygen directly from the Martian atmosphere.
Efficiency in low-pressure environments: Plasma reactors can operate effectively in the thin Martian atmosphere.
Potential for other applications: The technology could be adapted to extract other elements from the Martian atmosphere, like nitrogen.
Challenges:
Scaling up the process: Developing a system capable of producing large quantities of oxygen on Mars remains a significant challenge.
Energy requirements: Efficiently powering the plasma reactor is crucial for practical applications.
Relevant research areas:
Plasma physics:
Understanding the interactions between electrons and gas molecules in a plasma environment.
Electromagnetic fields:
Designing optimized plasma reactors using electric fields to accelerate electrons.
Space exploration technology:
Developing systems for in-situ resource utilization on Mars, particularly oxygen production.
Plasma reactors could create oxygen on Mars | Science | AAAS
Aug 16, 2022
Science
Harvesting Resources on Mars with Plasmas - AIP Publishing LLC
Aug 16, 2022 — We're looking at these two steps in a holistic way to solve both challenges at the same time. This is where plasmas ca...
AIP Publishing LLC
A plasma reactor could help astronauts breathe on Mars
Aug 28, 2022
Freethink
Show all
Generative AI is experimental.
A Novel CO2 Splitting Process with Electron Beam to ...
Mars University
https://www.marsu.space › post › article-3-novel-co2-spli...
Nov 16, 2020 — A novel approach to the molecular separation of carbon dioxide provides a lightweight, low energy solution at room temperatures and pressures.
How is it possible to convert dioxide carbon found on Mars to oxygen?
How do you extract oxygen from Mars?
How will you provide oxygen and remove excess carbon dioxide on Mars?
What is the evidence for direct molecular oxygen production in CO2 photodissociation?
Feedback
Plasma reactors could create oxygen on Mars
Science | AAAS
https://www.science.org › News › Latest News
Aug 16, 2022 — A beam of electrons, accelerated to a specific energy level, can split carbon dioxide into its component ions, or plasma, just like MOXIE.
THE OXYGEN AND CARBON PRODUCTION FROM CO2 ...
TalTech Digikogu
https://digikogu.taltech.ee › Download
PDF
find research use electron beam to separate oxygen from carbon in co2 on mars from digikogu.taltech.ee
Sep 19, 2022 — MOXIE's mission on Mars is to show that solid oxide electrolysis can break down the carbon dioxide in the Martian atmosphere into carbon ...
A plasma reactor could help astronauts breathe on Mars
Freethink
https://www.freethink.com › produce-oxygen-on-mars
find research use electron beam to separate oxygen from carbon in co2 on mars from www.freethink.com
Aug 28, 2022 — For their study, the researchers demonstrated how an accelerated beam of those electrons could be used to split CO2 molecules in a reactor ...
Missing: find | Show results with: find
Direct production of molecular oxygen from carbon dioxide ...
Nature
https://www.nature.com › ... › articles
by Y Zhi · 2023 · Cited by 3 — The prebiotic mechanism to produce molecular oxygen (O 2 ) in carbon dioxide (CO 2 )-rich planetary atmospheres is of great importance in understanding ...
Organic synthesis on Mars by electrochemical reduction ...
National Institutes of Health (NIH) (.gov)
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › articles › PMC6209388
by A Steele · 2018 · Cited by 85 — Organic synthesis on Mars occurs by the electrochemical reduction of CO2, a reaction that is highly relevant for abiotic organic synthesis ...
Splitting CO 2 in Intense Pulsed Plasma Jets
MDPI
https://www.mdpi.com › ...
by A Scurtu · 2023 · Cited by 1 — A possible application of this technique is in future Mars missions where the coaxial plasma gun running in the atmosphere could be able to ...
Plasma Reactors Could Create Oxygen On Mars
Slashdot
https://science.slashdot.org › story › plasma-reactors-co...
Aug 17, 2022 — Physicists say they've come up with a way to use electron beams in a plasma reactor to create far more oxygen, potentially in a smaller package.
Oxygen for Mars
The Space Review
https://www.thespacereview.com › article
Nov 27, 2023 — There is actually a fair amount of nitrogen in the Mars atmosphere, and it would be easy to separate it from the CO2 by cooling the latter.
Electrochemical splitting of CO2 for carbon and oxygen ...
European Space Agency
https://activities.esa.int › ...
We propose a study for developing a reactor technology CO2 is electrochemically split into solid carbon and gaseous oxygen, which are then separated and stored.

As I'm hoping is well known to NewMars members, electron beams are usually formed in a vacuum.

The atmosphere of Mars is NOT a vacuum, so I am curious about the idea/suggestion of using an electron beam to split CO2.

If a NewMars member has the time and is interested in the question, please investigate to see how an electron beam can be used as the snippets above seem to suggest might be possible.

(th)

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#1 2017-10-19 07:38:33

A mission to Mars could make its own oxygen with plasma technology

#2 2017-10-19 09:10:23

Re: A mission to Mars could make its own oxygen with plasma technology

#3 2017-10-19 09:13:54

Re: A mission to Mars could make its own oxygen with plasma technology

#4 2017-10-19 09:39:37

Re: A mission to Mars could make its own oxygen with plasma technology

#5 2017-10-19 09:55:09

Re: A mission to Mars could make its own oxygen with plasma technology

#6 2017-10-19 17:00:35

Re: A mission to Mars could make its own oxygen with plasma technology

#7 2019-04-25 12:06:51

Re: A mission to Mars could make its own oxygen with plasma technology

#8 2024-12-04 18:28:39

Re: A mission to Mars could make its own oxygen with plasma technology

#9 2024-12-04 20:36:05

Re: A mission to Mars could make its own oxygen with plasma technology

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