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Thesis
Thermodynamics Of Vacuum Pyrolysis Of Lunar Regolith
University of West Florida Libraries
Master of Engineering (ME), University of West Florida
2024
Abstract
Vacuum pyrolysis of lunar regolith stands as an evolving challenge within the scientificcommunity, particularly as the costs of lunar expeditions soar to unprecedented heights, underscoring the critical importance of maximizing efficiency. Among the overarching objectives for lunar habitation is the establishment of robust structures and reliable vehicles. Yet, transporting these requisite items or materials from Earth to the moon proves exorbitantly costly and inherently short-sighted. Thus, the focus shifts towards leveraging the moon's abundant natural resources and minerals to fabricate the necessary infrastructure for sustaining life on the lunar surface. The crux of this endeavor lies in the development of a process capable of harnessing the moon's resources efficiently. Vacuum pyrolysis emerges as a promising solution, offering a means to extract valuable minerals and metals from lunar regolith. Through this method, the process effectively segregates useful elements from the regolith, yielding a diverse array of materials essential for lunar infrastructure. The research culminates in the recognition of vacuum pyrolysis as one of the main processes of liberating a broad spectrum of useful elements from lunar regolith. The most likely metals that can be extracted are iron, calcium, silicon, potassium and sodium. The temperature and pressure ranges in which the extraction of metals is possible was determined in this study. Moreover, this work also displayed the possibility of
extracting metals such as titanium, magnesium and calcium from various lunar samples. This efficiency stems from a combination of factors, including the relatively low temperatures required for extraction in pyrolysis and the exceedingly low atmospheric pressure on the moon, facilitating the seamless filtration of regolith into valuable metals and minerals such as Ilmenite, Chromite, Troilite, and Native Iron. Multiple studies corroborate the presence of these same materials on the lunar surface, affirming the feasibility of their utilization. This paper builds upon this principle using Apollo 12 Lunar sample data from samples 12010, 12013, and 12022, as well as Maria and Highland data. Using the underlying theory of Gibbs Free Energy and the CALPHAD method in Thermocalc software to simulate the vapor phase pyrolysis of selected oxides and examining the results.
Details
- Title
- Thermodynamics Of Vacuum Pyrolysis Of Lunar Regolith
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Contributors
- Amrita M Gautam (Committee Chair) - University of West Florida, Hal Marcus College of Science and EngineeringBradley Regez (Committee Member)Cheng Zhang (Committee Member) - University of West Florida, Mechanical Engineering
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries; Argo Scholar Commons
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 98
- Copyright
- Unpublished work © Letsinger, Michael Andre
- Identifiers
- 99380599442506600
- Academic Unit
- Mechanical Engineering
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Engineering (ME)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Engineering (ME), University of West Florida