ISRU on the Moon by Larry Taylor

Planetary Geosciences Institute

University of Tennessee (lataylor@[Link])

JJP

MOON is an enormous Earth-orbiting Space Station [ Moon = EOSS],

a natural satellite outside of Earth’s gravity well,
with raw materials that can be put to practical use,
as humanity expands outward into the Solar System.
Regolith for Feedstock: Processing and Products
LUNAR SCIENCE IS THE ENTIRE BASIS FOR
OUR KNOWLEDGE OF LUNAR RESOURCES

OUTLINE

LUNAR REGOLITH / SOIL: What it is??

Physically, Chemically, Mineralogically,
Magnetically, Geotechnically

SOUTH POLE: Water-Ice versus Only Hydrogen

Recovering LLH and LUNOX; Mining Ice; Solar-Wind
Hydrogen and Volatiles from Regolith; Oxygen from
Regolith; Processing for Specific Products
 Lunar Mare Soil Volcanic Glass
Impact-Glass Bead
Bead

Agglutinate

Rock
Chips

Impact
Glass

1 mm
Plagioclase

Regolith: broken up rock material

Soil: <1 cm portion of the Regolith
 Lunar Soil Formation

Comminution, Agglutination, & Vapor Deposition

Mare-Soil
Agglutinate

100 µm

Courtesy – Dave McKay

 Mare Soil Maturation
80 Basalt Taylor & McKay (1992)

Particle %
Fragments
60 Agglutinates
80 40
Mineral
Fragments

20
immature submature mature
20 40 60 80
60 Is / FeO
a t es
Volume %

t i n
A gglu
40
Min
e ra l
s
20 Basalt
Fragme
nts
Immature Submature Mature
20 40 60 80
Is / FeO = Maturity
Cumulative Modal Percentage of Mare Soils
Low-Ti Mare Soils High-Ti Mare Soils
15071-52 15041-94 71501-35 10084-78
12030-14 12001-56 71061-14 70181-47 79221-81
FeO = 15.4 16.3 17.2 14.3 16.2 17.4 16.4 16.2 15.4
TiO2 = 3.6 1.6 2.8 1.7 7.3 9.5 8.1 7.3 6.5
100

Others
80
[Link].

60 Olivine
Ilm
40 Plag

Px
Px
* Is/FeO of <250 µm
20 Aggl Gl

20-45 µm
10-20 µm
20-45 µm
10-20 µm

20-45 µm
10-20 µm

20-45 µm
10-20 µm

20-45 µm
10-20 µm

<10 µm
<10 µm

<10 µm

<10 µm

<10 µm

Maturity Maturity Taylor et al. (2001)

SEM
SEM BSE -Image of
BSE-Image of Mare
Mare Agglutinitic
Agglutinitic Glass
Glass

Milky Way of np-Feo

1 µm

Courtesy – Dave McKay

 oo
FORMATION
FORMATION OF OF NANOPHASE
NANOPHASE Fe Fe
in
in AGGLUTINITIC
AGGLUTINITIC GLASS:
GLASS:

30 YEAR PARADIGM

Auto-Reduction Reaction in Impact-Soil Melt

“FeOmelt” + H2 = Fe0 + H2O
Solar-Wind Implanted H+ in Lunar Soil
Causes Reduction of Fe2+ to Feo
in Micrometeorite-Produced Impact Melt
 Is/FeO Values Versus Agglutinitic Glass Contents

80
23% Agglutinitic Glass
7%
16% 6 7% 15%
60 7% 2 12 18% 1221% 15
9 2
23% 18
40 18
* Is/FeO of >250 µm

12030-14* 15071-52* 12001-56* 15041-94* 71061-14* 71501-35* 70181-47* 10084-78* 79221-81*

99 75 117
150 Is / FeO 72
65
65
100 76
39% 31% 36%
88 31% 63% 100 19%
50
42% 56% 79%

20-45 µm
20-45 µm

20-45 µm

20-45 µm

20-45 µm

10-20 µm
10-20 µm

10-20 µm

10-20 µm

10-20 µm

<10 µm
<10 µm

<10 µm

<10 µm

<10 µm Taylor et al. (2001)

Vapor-Deposited Nanophase Feo on Plagioclase

Keller et al. (1999)

SiO2-rich
glass

10 nm
Plagioclase
100 Å
 MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
OF LUNAR SOILS

 Magnetic Susceptibility of Soil Particles

Increases as Grain Size Decreases;

 Effects of Vapor-Deposited Nanophase Feo are a

Direct Function of Surface Area and Most
Pronounced in the Finest Grain Sizes;

 Virtually All <10 µm Particles are Easily Attracted by

a Simple Hand-held Magnet, Plg, Pyx, Ol, and
Agglutinitic Glass alike.
Lunar Dust Effects: Must be Addressed
before any Commercial Presence
on the Moon can be Fully Evaluated.

9 Potential for coatings, on seals, gaskets, optical lens,

windows, electrical components, et cetera;
9 Abrasiveness, with regards to friction-bearing surfaces;
9 Potential for settling on all thermal and optical surfaces,
such as Solar cells and mirrors; and
9 Physiological effects on humans, especially with respect
to the lungs, the lymph system, and potentially the
cardiovascular system, in the case of extremely fine
particles.

SOLUTION: Magnetic brushes ??

 MICROWAVE RADIATION

™ There is an entire subculture of people who derive

pleasure from putting strange things in
microwave ovens
™ Things that microwave oven manufacturers would
strenuously suggest should not be put there.

In the hands of these people :

¾ Table grapes produce glowing plasmas;
¾ Soap bars mutate into abominable soap monsters;
¾ Compact discs incandesce;
¾ Even ‘Wet Poodles’ have been known to “explode.”
 Microwave Principles
I in I out

C L R
I out = f [ ] Total Current
Interaction of Materials with Microwaves

Reflectant Metal C

Transparent Glass L

Absorbent Water R

LOSS TAN δ = Sum of Losses from All Mechanisms during Microwave Heating
 MICROWAVE HEATING:
IMPORTANT PARAMETERS FOR MATERIAL RESPONSE
DIELECTRIC CONSTANT, ε r, AND LOSS TANGENT, TAN δ

Loss Tangent Increases with T

0.5
Power density: Increases
0.4 Half-Power Depth: Decreases
Tan δ

0.3 Heating Rate: Increases

0.2

0.1

0
200 600 1000 1400 1800 2200
Temperature (°K)
Microwave Heating of Lunar Soil:

NanoPhase Fe0 in Silicate Glass

Fe0 grain size is so small as to be below the
effective “skin depth” of microwave penetration;

System is basically one of :

Small conductors of Fe0 insulated by
Intervening dielectric glass

GREAT MICROWAVE COUPLING!

 Sintering Progress of Powder Particles
By Microwave Energy

Melt

Initial heating Solid-State Diffusion Combination of

of particles plus Introduction of Solid-State and
liquid phase Liquid-Phase
Sintering
 Microwave Melting
Along Grain Boundaries of Mare Soil
10 µm

Solid

Melt
Solid
Solid
 BENEFITS OF MICROWAVE OVER CONVENTIONAL HEATING

ƒ RAPID HEATING RATES [ >1000 0C/min ]

ƒ HIGH TEMPERATURES [ 2000 0C ]
ƒ ENHANCED REACTION RATES [ Faster Diffusion Rates ]
ƒ FASTER SINTERING KINETICS [ Shorter Sintering Times ]
ƒ LOWER SINTERING TEMPERATURE [ Energy Savings ]
ƒ FINE MICROSTRUCTURES [ Improved Mechanical Properties ]
ƒ CONSIDERABLY REDUCED PROCESSING TIME
ƒ PROCESS SIMPLICITY
ƒ LESS LABOR COSTS

Bottom Line : LOWER ENERGY REQUIREMENTS

LUNAR SOIL PROCESSING & PRODUCTS

SINTERING and MELTING

Ä Roads
Ä Satellite Dishes
Ä Shielding
Ä Welding
Ä Recovery of Volatiles
Ä Glass Fiber Production
Ä Solar Cells (Ilmenite)

SUGGESTIONS ??
 RESOURCE USE AT FIRST LUNAR BASE

Ä LUNOX experiments and initial production

Ä LLH Recovery
Ä Photo-Voltaic Cell production
Ä Regolith for radiation protection: digger,
mover, transporter, role of microwave
processing
Ä Production of cast basalt and sintered
regolith by microwave processing
Ä Rover / robotics – geosciences / resource
evaluation
 Products that could be
derived from 1 m3 of
Lunar Regolith

Lunar Lunch for Two 350 liters44He

350liters He
@
@STP
STP
a la Larry Haskins

Global Average Ann

Electricity Consume
per Capita-1995
Potential Processes for Oxygen Production on the Moon
Process Reference
Solid/Gas Interaction Solid/Gas Interaction
Ilmenite Reduction with Hydrogen Gibson & Knudsen (1985)
Ilmenite Reduction with C/CO Chang (1959); Shadman & Zhou (1988)
Ilmenite Reduction with Methane Friedlander (1985)
Glass Reduction with Hydrogen McKay et al. (1991)
Reduction with Hydrogen Sulfide Dalton & Hohmann (1972)
Extraction with Fluorine Burt (1988)
Carbochlorination Lynch (1989)
Chlorine Plasma Reduction Lynch (1989)
Silicate/Oxide Melt Silicate/Oxide Melt
Molten Silicate Electrolysis Haskin (1985)
Fluxed Molten Silicate Electrolysis Keller (1986)
Caustic Dissolution & Electrolysis Dalton & Hohmann (1972)
Carbothermal Reduction Rosenburg (1966); Cutler & Krag (1985)
Magma Partial Oxidation Waldon (1989)
Li or Na Reduction Ilmenite Sammells & Semkow (1987)

Pyrolysis Pyrolysis
Vapor Pyrolysis Steurer & Nerad (1983)
Ion Plasma Pyrolysis Steurer & Nerad (1983)
Plasma Reduction of Ilmenite Allen et al., (1988)

Aqueous Solutions Aqueous Solutions

HF Acid Dissolution Waldron (1985)
H2SO4 Acid Dissolution Christiansen et al. (1988); Sullivan (1991)

Co-Product Recovery Co-Product Recovery

Hydrogen-Helium-Water from Soil. Christiansen et al. (1988)
Taylor & Carrier, 1992
 Production of LUNOX by H2 Reduction of
Ilmenite

recycle

FeTiO3 + H2 Fe + TiO2 + H2O electrolysis H2 + ½ O2

Ilmenite Solid Oxygen
feed Product Product
 LUNOX

Block Flow – Ilmenite Processing

Electric Power

H2 Reduction O2 Cooling LOX Transprotation

Surface
Beneficiation & & &
Mining
Electrolysis Liquefaction Storage

Waste Spent
Solids Reacted
Solids
 Beneficiation Studies
Ilmenite Liberation for the 45 – 90 µm Size
Fraction of Hi – Ti Basalt 71055

Only 50 vol %
Ilmenite is
Clean
(80- 100%
Liberated)

Taylor et al., 1995

Concentrations of Solar-Wind Volatile Species
in Lunar Regolith Samples, in ppm.

H He C N Ne Ar

Apollo 11 20-100 20-84 96-216 45-110 2-11 1.3-12

Apollo 12 2-106 14-68 23-170 46-140 1.2-6 0.5-4.6

Apollo 14 67-105 5-16 42-225 25-130 0.14-1.6 0.4-2.2

Apollo 15 13-125 5-19 21-186 33-135 0.6-108 0.5-2.7

Apollo 16 4-146 3-36 31-280 4-209 0.4-1.2 0.6-3

Apollo 17 0.1-106 13-41 4-200 7-94 1.2-2.7 0.6-2.6

Haskin and Warren, 1991

 Abundance of Hydrogen in Mare Soil

Premise : Need 20 tonnes of LLH hydrogen per year

Hydrogen in lunar soil = 200 ppm; 50% recovery = 0.01 wt%

H in 1 m3 = [2.0 g/cc] x [106 cc/m3] X [1 x 10-4] = 2.0 x 102 g/m3

20 tonnes = 20t x 103 kg / t x 103 g/kg = 20 x 106 g

20 tonnes = 20 x 106g / 2.0 x 102 g/m3 = 10 x 104 m3 = 105 m3

1 Football Field (Depth of 3m) = 5 x 103 m2 x 3 = 15 x 103 m3

20 t LH = 6.2 Football Fields to 3 m depth

20 tonnes of LLH = ~6 Football Fields

0.03 km2 (1 / 30 th km2)
 Gas Release from Lunar Mare Soil

100

80
Cumulative %

60

40

20

0
400 800 1200
Temperature, 0C
 Regolith Processing on the Moon

Buried
Habitat
LUNOX / LLH Storage

Mirror

ISR

ISR (InSect Robot)

Mirror
 Lo-Carb FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Regolith Processing
¡ The Nature of Lunar Resources and the Types of Feedstocks
that can be Feasibly Produced Must be Factored into the
Engineering Design for the Particular Production Process

¡ Simplicity of Overall Process – Batch vs Continuous mode

¡ Resupply Mass from Earth – Reagent makeup + Attrition

¡ Plant Mass & Energy Requirements – f (mass needed);

solar vs RTG energy

¡ Evaluation of Feedstock – Mare vs Highland; Rocks vs Soils;

Beneficiation; Product mass; Energy needs
 Polar
Polar Regions
Regions

Two cases:
™ Hydrogen enrichment: solar-wind hydrogen only
Properties of regolith may be similar to elsewhere on the Moon,
from our Apollo studies; new information may not be needed;
possibility of unexpected effects of extreme cold (25-100 K);
major considerations for processing tools at 50 K.

™ Hydrogen enrichment: H2O-dominated ice

In this case, physical properties of the regolith might be very
different from those at Apollo sites
 Polar Ice:
Extraction and Purification

™ Once ice deposits are identified and characterized,

extraction experiments are needed:
♣ Heating methods
♣ Volatile handling
♣ Further processing of other gases
♣ Gas storage
♣ Separation of impurities from
♣ Electrolysis of H2O to produce LLH and LUNOX
♣ Demonstration Experiments on the Moon???
 Polar Ice
Æ Effects of Ice on Regolith Physical Properties?
♠ Composition of Ice: Cometary? Lunar?
♠ Ice form: Crystalline? Amorphous? Thin films? Pore-
filling?;
♠ Soil Particles: Binding by Ice? Loose? Granular?
Coherent?
♠ Geotechnical Properties: variations with depth (drill
cores)? Ice Properties!
♠ Physical Properties of Regolith: cohesion, shear strength,
grain-size distribution, bulk density, porosity, etc.
 SUBJECTS TO PONDER
9 WHAT IS NEEDED FOR FURTHER EVALUATION OF:
REGOLITH RESOURCES??
REGOLITH PROCESSES??

9 WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW IN ORDER TO PLAN RESOURCE

RECOVERY??
Site Evaluation! Subsurface knowledge! Nature of Regolith!

9 “PROOF-OF-CONCEPT” ISRU EXPERIMENTS NEEDED FOR A

LANDER??

9 REGOLITH PROCESSING?? Regolith moving! Mineral benefic-

iation! Oxygen production! Solar-wind measurements!
Microwave Processing (sintering, melting, glass)!
PV Cell production ……….

9 ENERGY FOR LANDERS FROM SOLAR CELLS VERSUS RTGs?

 TO DO: ASAP
♦ Develop / Demonstrate Material Science Processing for
Utilization of Lunar Resources, Including Oxygen /
Hydrogen Production; Ceramics / glass / brick – HOW?
♦ Begin ASAP with Focused Applied Material Science /
Engineering Program to Research the Chemical
Reactions / Physical Processes / Etc.
♦ Evaluate Competitive ISRU Processes
♦ PROOF – IN -- CONCEPT DEMONSTRATIONS
Production of Oxygen / Hydrogen from Soil
Measurement of Solar-Wind Components in Soil
Release and Capture of Solar-Wind Components
Microwave Processing of Soil; Volatile; Shielding; Bricks
Bottom Line: Lunar Resources are known in a preliminary
sense, largely thru extensive scientific studies. However,
further exploration for & confirmation of resources and
demonstration of their practical utility will be required!