The project titled Developing Sustainable Wastewater Treatment Systems for Lunar Habitats Enhancing Membrane Bioreactor Stability and Microbiome Viability focuses on advancing wastewater treatment technology in extraterrestrial environments specifically for future lunar habitats.

The award which provides $25000 in support includes $20000 in cash and $5000 in in-kind services from the USF Microbiome Institute Core Facility. The funds will be used to develop novel methods for treating wastewater in extreme conditions such as those found in space environments while also enhancing the viability of microbiomes involved in the treatment process.

The overarching goal of the project is to ensure the stability and efficiency of membrane bioreactors in low-gravity environments while also maintaining the health of the microbiomes that play a vital role in breaking down waste. The development of such systems is critical for long-term space missions particularly as NASA and other space agencies look toward establishing sustainable human habitats on the Moon and beyond.

Support from USF’s Microbiome Research Program

The USF Microbiomes Institute announced the 2024-2025 Microbiome Research Awards on Nov.21 2024. The co-investigators  Daniel H. Yeh and Valerie J. Harwood received a Pilot Award. The institute unites interdisciplinary researchers from various sectors at USF to advance the study of microbiomes in health sustainability and more. The goal is to support innovative projects addressing critical challenges such Yeh Harwood and Smiths Project.

Source: https://www.usf.edu/engineering/news/2024/microbiome-24-25-research-awards-yeh-harwood.aspx