Water and nutrient recovery from urine: A lead up trail using nano-structured In2S3 photo electrodes

doi:10.1088/1674-1056/abd169

Abstract Developments of economic systems are critical for bio-regenerative life support systems in manned space missions. In this work we report on the feasibility of using two direct sunlight powered processes sequentially for the recovery of water and nutrients from urine. The work presents experimental evidence on nutrient and water recovery achieved using the proto-type designed and developed. We report the design and testing of a solar still which would serve on the nutrient recovery front. The cooled condensate from the solar still is fed into a solar powered electrolysis unit where nano-structured indium sulphide (In₂S₃) thin films coated over fluorine doped tin oxide (SnO₂:F) substrate serve as one of the working electrodes. The electrolysis takes place in the absence of an electrolyte which manifests as a technical achievement of our work. Our results show that the COD level in the recycled water is very low. The In₂S₃ photo-electrodes are stable without any physical damage after the process.

Keywords: semiconductors water quality thin film structure and morphology electrolysis

Received: 02 October 2020
Revised: 04 December 2020
Accepted manuscript online: 08 December 2020

PACS:	61.82.Fk	(Semiconductors)
	92.60.Sz	(Air quality and air pollution)
	68.55.-a	(Thin film structure and morphology)
	82.45.Hk	(Electrolysis)

Fund: R. Jayakrishnan thanks KSCSTE for funding this work under the SPYTiS scheme (Grant No. 25/SPYTiS III/2017/KSCSTE) and also thanks DoECC, Government of Kerala for supporting the work (Grant No. DoECC/E3/R&D/1751/2017).

Corresponding Authors: R Jayakrishnan
E-mail: rjk@keralauniversity.ac.in

Cite this article:

R Jayakrishnan, T R Sreerev, and Adith Varma Water and nutrient recovery from urine: A lead up trail using nano-structured In₂S₃ photo electrodes 2021 Chin. Phys. B 30 056103

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Water and nutrient recovery from urine: A lead up trail using nano-structured In2S3 photo electrodes

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Water and nutrient recovery from urine: A lead up trail using nano-structured In₂S₃ photo electrodes