By The Star Staff
The Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust on Tuesday announced the launch of an innovative research project developed on the island and destined for the International Space Station (ISS).
The experiment, Rhodium Water Filtration 01, is led by Dr. David Suleiman Rosado, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. The research aims to transform water purification in space environments, addressing critical challenges such as energy consumption and the efficient reuse of water resources.
The project will be transported as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10 mission, scheduled to launch today at 7:48 p.m. (Puerto Rico time). The live broadcast of the launch will be available on NASA’s website.
The ISS continuously faces challenges in water purification and reuse due to resupply costs, energy limitations and maintenance requirements. Rhodium Water Filtration 01 introduces advanced technology based on a polymer nanocomposite membrane (PNM) designed to capture essential ions (Na+ and K+), inactivate microorganisms, and separate urea from water. The three-stage system, the researcher said, optimizes purification efficiency and represents a key advancement, not only for ensuring self-sufficiency in future space missions to the Moon and Mars, but also for improving water treatment on Earth.
“Polymeric nanostructured membranes allow for the development of sophisticated separation systems using knowledge of chemistry and engineering,” Suleiman Rosado said. “This application, which we will study on the International Space Station, is not only an inspiration for me and all my students, but it can also be fundamental for the success of future space missions and help us better understand transport mechanisms, which could have implications for various applications benefiting our society.”
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