Biosphere Ocean Life Support

The 30 micron primary drum filters in the Biosphere 2 life-support system required backwash because they were failing to remove dissolved and suspended organic material from the Biosphere 2 ocean. The goal of the backwash treatment was to identify optimal conditions for reuse while simultaneously minimizing any potential waste stream. This required multiple mass balances, process train designs, and ocean chemistry knowledge. Mechanical processes such as rapid sand filtration and ultrafiltration were used to remove turbidity, and chemical processes such as ozonation and ultraviolet treatment removed harmful microbes within the backwash.