U.S.A. researchers say they have found a way to use salt water on Mars to produce oxygen and fuel.
Both oxygen and fuel will be important components to support future human exploration activities on the Red Planet.
Engineers at the University of Washington in St. Louis, Missouri, developed the new system. This method works with electrolysis, a process in which an electric current is passed through a liquid such as water.
The machine developed by the researchers is called an electrolyzer. Researchers say that this can separate salt water into oxygen and hydrogen gases. Humans need oxygen to breathe and hydrogen can be used as fuel for spacecraft and equipment.
The team described this process in a recently published study Processes of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Scientists have gathered solid evidence that Mars already had a large amount of water and that the planet has a large supply today. But Mars is so cold. Therefore, most water is considered to be in the form of ice.
The research team notes that any water that does not freeze is filled with salt from Martian soil. Conventional electrolysis methods for breaking down water into oxygen must first remove the salt. Researchers say the process is complex, expensive and harmful to the environment.
He said the new method they discovered could take salt water directly Change It converts to oxygen and hydrogen.
The team conducted experiments with high levels of magnesium salts, which scientists believe exist on Mars. The researchers also conducted experiments at temperatures similar to the Red Planet’s atmosphere.
In a news release, the engineers suggested that the system could be very valuable during planned exploration activities on Mars. “To live – even temporarily – on Mars, no Specify To return to Earth, the astronauts had to prepare some requirements on the Red Planet, including water and fuel. ”
The US space agency NASA has also tested technology to produce oxygen on Mars. A device designed to do this will be tested as part of NASA’s diligence Mission. Perseverance is a new Explorer vehicle or rover that is currently on its way to Mars.
The NASA device is designed to convert carbon dioxide from the Martian atmosphere into oxygen. The process uses high temperature electrolysis. NASA scientists have tested this system by recreating the Martian atmosphere in experiments on Earth.
Leading researcher on the new project is Vijay Ramani, a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Washington. He said the system developed by his team could produce 25 times more oxygen than the NASA system, using the same amount of energy. It can also produce hydrogen fuel, which is not possible with the NASA device.
The engineering team said its method could even find valuable applications on Earth. “After proving these electrolyzers under Mars conditions, we also want to use them under the most mild conditions on Earth,” said Braille Cain. He is a postgraduate researcher at the University of Washington and a leading author of the study.
Kayan said the device could be used for replacement Salt Or salt water in oxygen and hydrogen by “seawater electrolysis”.
When such use exists in the defense industry, he added. This method can produce oxygen as required by submarines. It can provide oxygen to researchers exploring new environments in the deep sea.
I am Brian Lynn.
Brian Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English based on reports from the University of Washington, Nature and PNAS. Ashley Thompson was the teacher.
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Words in this story
Change – V. Change the look or purpose of something
Specify – V. To speak quickly, use small details or a few words
Mission – My. An important task, usually traveling somewhere
Salt – adj. Slightly salty, dirty and unpleasant water