This project explored the application of the firm's ultra-fine coal (UFC) electrostatic separator technology for the separation and concentration of lunar-derived materials. The innovation is in applying technology developed for use on earth to the vacuum of space. The Phase I effort showed that separation of lunar-derived minerals is technically feasible and that the UFC separator may be a valuable tool in the recovery of minerals from the space environment. Demonstrations included the separation of ilmenite from basalt pulverized to 50% minus 50 micron and the separation of ice from pulverized basalt on a UFC separator operating at -80 C. Theoretical analysis of the UFC separator indicates that vacuum operation could greatly improve separator performance and capacity, perhaps by a factor of 10 or more. Potential Commercial Application:The UFC separator can be used for dry separation of many diverse solids including coal, talc, fly-ash, wheat flour, calcium carbonate, and others. Vacuum operation is expected to be a space-only application, but the theoretical understanding of the UFC separator in vacuum will greatly enhance terrestrial performance. STATUS: Phase I Only
