Properly programmed combination of advanced chemical and physical analytical techniques characterize critically all trace contaminants in both the potable and waste water from the Apollo Command Module. This methodology can also be applied to the investigation of the source of water pollution

Foster, J. N.

Lysyj, I.

Nelson, K. H.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

July 1967	 Brief 67-10243 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U.S. space program, 
to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public at 15 cents each 
from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Analytical Technique Characterizes All Trace Contaminants in Water 
The problem: 
To develop a method to characterize critically all 
trace contaminants in both the potable and waste 
water from the Apollo Command Module. 
The solution: 
A properly programmed combination of ad-
vanced chemical and physical analytical techniques 
provides critical characterization of all trace im-
purities in the water specimen. 
How it's done: 
The organic impurities are characterized and meas-
ured by pyrolytic gas chromatographic analysis. This 
technique accommodates specimens drawn directly 
from the sample without any requirement for pre-
treatment. Standards and calibrations are established 
in accordance with conventional gas chromatographic 
procedure. 
The inorganic contaminants are quantitatively 
concentrated by techniques specifically developed to 
prevent further contamination. The concentrates are 
then measured by combinations of emission spectros-
copy, flame spectrometry, spectrophotometry, and 
turbidometry. This sequence results in complete 
characterization and quantization of all trace compo-
nents in the specimen. Standards and calibrations are 
established by methods that are conventional to each 
of these analytical techniques.
Notes: 
1. Investigation of water pollution is now receiving 
considerable attention. One of the principal tech-
nical problems encountered in such investigations 
is the exact identification of the source of pol-
lutants. The methodology described above can be 
expected to facilitate greatly such identifications. 
Additionally, it will provide data on which to 
evaluate catalytic or side reactions that can be 
expected to accompany any recovery processing 
under consideration. As this methodology becomes 
generally applied, stockpiles of standards and cali-
brations for the more common combinations of 
trace contaminants will be accumulated. This will 
reduce both the complexity and the costs of the 
reported techniques. 
2. Inquiries concerning this invention may be di-
rected to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Manned Spacecraft Center 
Houston, Texas 77058 
Reference: B67-10243 
Patent status: 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for the commercial 
use of this invention may be made to NASA, Code 
GP, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Source: thor Lysyj, K. H. Nelson, and J. N. Foster 
of North American Aviation, Inc.
under contract to

Manned Spacecraft Center 
(M SC- l 1032) 
Category 03 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
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Analytical technique characterizes all trace contaminants in water

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