NASA STTR 2006 Solicitation

SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN (SBC):		RESEARCH INSTITUTION (RI):
NAME:	H-Cubed, Inc.	NAME:	Cleveland Clinic
ADDRESS:	8301 Trumpetor Way	ADDRESS:	9500 Euclid Ave.
CITY:	Raleigh	CITY:	Cleveland
STATE/ZIP:	NC  27613-4583	STATE/ZIP:	OH  44195-0002
PHONE:	(919) 673-9800	PHONE:	(216) 444-5223

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROJECT MANAGER (Name,Email)
Shuvo   Roy
ROYS@ccf.org

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT ( Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200 words)
For NASA exploration missions to the Moon and Mars, medical grade water generation is a necessity. Adsorption filter technology has shown some promise, but requires transport of disposable/replacement filter cartridges, which adds to the overall mass/volume of the system for medical grade water generation. Distillation and reverse osmosis are other techniques that are used to generate medical grade water. However, power requirements, processing rates, and microgravity affects render these techniques undesirable for NASA missions. Therefore, we propose to develop a compact, low-power nanofiltration system for the generation of medical grade water. The key nanofiltration component will be a soda can-sized package housing a stack of silicon nanoporous membranes to process onboard potable water. The system would generate ~2 liters/hour of purified water with <1 psi differential driving pressure. In Phase 1, we would complete fabrication of silicon nanoporous membranes, test them for nanofiltration of endotoxins, and develop an optimized design for the next generation of miniaturized nanoporous membranes. In Phase 2, we would fabricate the optimized design, manufacture a portable medical grade water generator based on the optimized design, and test the system for endotoxin filtration.

POTENTIAL NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS ( Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
The new, high performance nanofiltration system would provide NASA with a reliable, low-power, and compact system for generation of medical grade water in microgravity environments. NASA missions to the Moon and Mars would benefit significantly by insuring astronaut health if treatment of an injury or medical condition were required. The medical grade water generator would enable production of sterile water for intravenous fluids and mixing of requisite pharmaceuticals.

POTENTIAL NON-NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS ( Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
Demineralization processes, treatment of wastewater, gas separation, and hemofiltration are among the other potential uses.

NASA's technology taxonomy has been developed by the SBIR-STTR program to disseminate awareness of proposed and awarded R/R&D in the agency. It is a listing of over 100 technologies, sorted into broad categories, of interest to NASA.

TECHNOLOGY TAXONOMY MAPPING

Biomedical and Life Support Sterilization/Pathogen and Microbial Control