Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Nitrogen Release”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

Atmosphere stabilization and element recycle in an experimental mouse-algal system

Life support systems based on bioregeneration rely on the control and manipulation of organisms. Experiments conducted with a gas-closed mouse-algal system designed to investigate principles of photosynthetic gas exchange focus primarily on observing gas exchange phenomena under varying algal environmental conditions and secondarily on studying element cycling through compartments of the experimental system. Inherent instabilities exit between the uptake and release of carbon dioxide CO2 and oxygen O2 by the mouse and algae. Variations in light intensity and cell density alter the photosynthetic rate of the algae and enable maintenance of physiologic concentrations of CO2 and O2. Different nitrogen sources (urea and nitrate) result in different algal assimilatory quotients (AQ). Combinations of photosynthetic rate and AQ ratio manipulations have been examined for their potential in stabilizing atmospheric gas concentrations in the gas-closed algal-mouse system. Elemental mass balances through the experimental systems compartments are being studied with the concurrent development of a mathematical simulation model. Element cycling experiments include quantification of elemental flows through system compartments and wet oxidation of system waste materials for use as an algal nutrient source. Oxidized waste products demonstrate inhibitory properties although dilution has been shown to allow normal growth.

Smernoff, David T.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Iron Catalyst Chemistry in High Pressure Carbon Monoxide Nanotube Reactor

The high-pressure carbon monoxide (HiPco) technique for producing single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) is analyzed using a chemical reaction model coupled with properties calculated along streamlines. Streamline properties for mixing jets are calculated by the FLUENT code using the k-e turbulent model for pure carbon monixide. The HiPco process introduces cold iron pentacarbonyl diluted in CO, or alternatively nitrogen, at high pressure, ca. 30 atmospheres into a conical mixing zone. Hot CO is also introduced via three jets at angles with respect to the axis of the reactor. Hot CO decomposes the Fe(CO)5 to release atomic Fe. Cluster reaction rates are from Krestinin, et aI., based on shock tube measurements. Another model is from classical cluster theory given by Girshick's team. The calculations are performed on streamlines that assume that a cold mixture of Fe(CO)5 in CO is introduced along the reactor axis. Then iron forms clusters that catalyze the formation of SWNTs from the Boudouard reaction on Fe-containing clusters by reaction with CO. To simulate the chemical process along streamlines that were calculated by the fluid dynamics code FLUENT, a time history of temperature and dilution are determined along streamlines. Alternative catalyst injection schemes are also evaluated.

Scott, Carl D.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Gas-phase molybdenum-99 separation from uranium dioxide by fluoride volatility using nitrogen trifluoride

Production of the important 99m Tc medical isotope parent, molybdenum-99 ( 99 Mo), via the fissioning of high- and low-enriched uranium (HEU/LEU) targets followed by target dissolution in acid and solution-phase purification of 99 Mo is time-consuming, generates quantities of corrosive radioactive waste, and can result in the release of an array of radionuclides to the atmosphere. An alternative 99 Mo purification method has been devised that has the potential to alleviate many of these issues. Herein, we demonstrate the feasibility of a rapid Mo/Tc gas-phase separation from UO 2 . The results indicate that volatile [ 99 Mo]Mo can be captured downstream of the reacted solid mixture on a column bed (trap) of alumina; the majority of the captured [ 99 Mo]Mo can be subsequently eluted from the alumina trap with a few milliliters of water. >1.0 × 10 5 single pass decontamination of U and the collected [ 99 Mo]Mo product is demonstrated. This simple thermo-fluorination technique has the potential to provide a rapid methodology for routine 99 Mo production.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Overview of design developments for Condensable Vapor Devices for ITER

The Condensable Vapor Devices (CVDs), which are part of the ITER Roughing Pump System (RPS), are designed to separate tritiated water content to protect downstream pumps and transfer the water to Tokamak Exhaust Processing (TEP) systems for further separation. CVDs operate on the principle that a cooling fluid, such as liquid nitrogen, cools the exhaust gas stream (process gas) from the Tokamak, allowing the water present in the process gas to condense and freeze, thereby trapping it in the CVDs. The CVDs once saturated with the ice are then regenerated to release the trapped water molecules, which are sent to the TEP. The present article will describe the technical requirements, challenges, and design progress made so far in the development of the CVDs.

Choukekar, Ketan [ORNL] (ORCID:0009000288016383)↗
NASA NTRS1979

GEOS axial booms

A booms and mechanisms subsystem was designed, developed, and qualified for the geostationary scientific satellite GEOS. Part of this subsystem consist of four axial booms consisting of one pair of 1 m booms and one pair of 2.5 m booms. Each of these booms is carrying one bird cage electric field sensor. Alignment accuracy requirements led to a telescopic type solution. Deployment is performed by pressurized nitrogen. At deployment in orbit two of these booms showed some anomalies and one of these two deployed only about 80%. Following this malfunction a detailed failure investigation was performed resulting in a design modification of some critical components as release mechanism, guide sleeves of the telescopic elements, and pressure system.

Schmidt, G. K.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Some effects of gas adsorption on the high temperature volatile release behavior of a terrestrial basalt, tektite and lunar soil

Mass pyrograms obtained from high-temperature, mass psectrometric pyrolysis of a glassy theoleiitic submarine basalt and a tektite, ground in air to less than 64 microns, have shown N2 and SO release patterns very similar to those from the pyrolysis of mature lunar soil fines. The N2 and CO release behavior from the terrestrial samples reproduces the biomodal, high-temperature (approximately 700 and 1050 C) features from the lunar samples. Unground portions of the basalt and tektite show no release of N2 and CO during pyrolysis. Grinding also alters the release behavior and absolute amounts of H2O and CO2. It is suggested that adsorption of atmospheric gases in addition to solar wind implantation of ions may account for the wide range of values in previously reported concentrations of carbon and nitrogen from lunar fines.

Graham, D. G.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Leafweb: Leaf Gas Exchange and Pulse-Amplitude Modulated Fluorometry for C4 Species, June 2026 Release

This dataset contains leaf gas exchange and Pulse-Amplitude Modulated (PAM) fluorometry for 98 C4 species. The C4 photosynthetic pathway employs specialized CO2 concentration mechanisms and Kranz anatomy to enrich CO2 concentration around Rubisco, the enzyme that catalyzes carbon fixation in the Calvin-Benson cycle to suppress photorespiration and increase the use efficiencies of light, nitrogen, and water as compared to the C3 photosynthetic pathways. Large-scale C4 photosynthetic datasets are relatively scarce, which has affected C4 photosynthesis research. To improve C4 photosynthetic data availability, Leafweb organized an effort to systematically collect, compile, standardize, and organize measurements of leaf gas exchange and/or Pulse-Amplitude Modulated (PAM) fluorometry of C4 species. This derived a C4 photosynthetic dataset containing measurements made by independent researchers in multiple countries in various environments (field, garden, or greenhouse). It covers three biochemical subtypes – the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-malic enzyme (NADP-ME), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-malic enzyme (NAD-ME), and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEP-CK) subtypes. This dataset is useful for using Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning and mechanistic models to study C4 photosynthesis and compare across different biochemical subtypes. This dataset contains 3 compressed (*.zip) folders containing 1,892 data files in comma-separate values (*.csv) format. Additional metadata are provided: one data dictionary and a file-level metadata file in comma-separate values (*.csv) format and a user guide in PDF (*.pdf) format.

Zhou, Haoran [Tianjin University, China]↗
DOE OSTI2020

Optimizing Ammonia Separation via Reactive Absorption for Sustainable Ammonia Synthesis

Metal halide salts such as magnesium chloride have been shown to be promising candidates for ammonia storage materials for energy storage and agriculture applications due to their ability to incorporate several moles of ammonia per mole of salt. Ammonia exiting a synthesis reactor can be separated from nitrogen and hydrogen by absorption into magnesium chloride. Such an absorption can be more complete and hotter than separation via ammonia condensation, the current standard in the Haber–Bosch process. Here, we discuss the optimal conditions for the cyclic uptake and release of ammonia from the supported magnesium chloride absorbents. An automated system was designed for measuring the nonequilibrium working capacity of the absorbent, as well as the impact of important operating conditions such as absorption and desorption temperature, pressure, and desorption time. Measurements of absorption and desorption kinetics provide insight into the mechanisms involved. The temperatures and pressures during absorption and desorption were designed to use minimal energy input to maximize the uptake and release of ammonia within a reasonable amount of time. In a laboratory-scale bed, absorption has a small unused bed length, so it is largely independent of mass transfer; it is dominated by how fast ammonia is fed to the bed. Yet, desorption is restricted both by the speed of heating the bed and by diffusion out of the absorbent. These measurements provide guidelines for ammonia separations and cycling sorbent materials on a larger scale.

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS↗
NASA NTRS2014

Detection of Nitric Oxide by the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument Implications for the Presence of Nitrates

One of the main goals of the Mars Science Laboratory is to determine whether the planet ever had environmental conditions able to support microbial life. Nitrogen is a fundamental element for life, and is present in structural (e.g., proteins), catalytic (e.g., enzymes and ribozymes), energy transfer (e.g., ATP) and information storage (RNA and DNA) biomolecules. Planetary models suggest that molecular nitrogen was abundant in the early Martian atmosphere, but was rapidly lost to space by photochemistry, sputtering impact erosion, and oxidized and deposited to the surface as nitrate. Nitrates are a fundamental source for nitrogen to terrestrial microorganisms. Therefore, the detection of nitrates in soils and rocks is important to assess the habitability of a Martian environment. SAM is capable of detecting nitrates by their thermal decomposition into nitric oxide, NO. Here we analyze the release of NO from soils and rocks examined by the SAM instrument at Gale crater, and discuss its origin.

Navarro-Gonzalez, R.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Dissection of Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Post-Fire Soil Environments using a Genome- Informed Experimental Community (Final Technical Report)

Wildfires are a natural part of many forest ecosystems, with globally important carbon (C) storage and nutrient cycling consequences, and they are increasing in frequency and severity in Western North America. Forest fires affect soil C stocks in complex ways; some C is released into the atmosphere through combustion, while a large percentage of the C is added to the soil in the form of pyrogenic organic matter. Worldwide, it is estimated that 16% of soil organic matter is pyrogenic, while locally, this number may be as high as 80%. Understanding how wildfires affect soil organic matter cycling requires understanding how microbes respond to pyrogenic organic matter and other post-fire soil conditions. However, our understanding of microbial interactions within post-fire soil was in its infancy at the time of our proposal. Outstanding questions included: Which microbes are capable of degrading pyrogenic organic matter? What are the relevant genes and metabolites associated with this degradation? What are the key interactions among post-fire microbes? Key highlights of outcomes supported by this grant included training eleven early-career scientists and two early-career PIs, publication of twelve peer-reviewed papers, cross-lab collaborations that empowered complex scientific approaches, the development of an open-source automated gas sampler to drive novel insights in C cycling, enhanced understanding of post-fire microbial community dynamics, and novel genetic and molecular insights into microbial responses to fire.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS1984

High resolution X- and gamma-ray spectroscopy of solar flares

A balloon-borne X- and gamma-ray instrument was developed, fabricated, and flown. This instrument has the highest energy resolution of any instrument flown to date for measurements of solar and cosmic X-ray and gamma-ray emission in the 13 to 600 keV energy range. The purpose of the solar measurements was to study electron acceleration and solar flare energy release processes. The cosmic observations were to search for cyclotron line features from neutron stars and for low energy gamma-ray lines from nucleosynthesis. The instrument consists of four 4 cm diameter, 1.3 cm thick, planar intrinsic germanium detectors cooled by liquid nitrogen and surrounded by CsI and NaI anti-coincidence scintillation crystals. A graded z collimator limited the field of view to 3 deg x 6 deg and a gondola pointing system provided 0.3 deg pointing accuracy. A total of four flights were made with this instrument. Additional funding was obtained from NSF for the last three flights, which had primarily solar objectives. A detailed instrument description is given. The main scientific results and the data analysis are discussed. Current work and indications for future work are summarized. A bibliography of publications resulting from this work is given.

Lin, R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Evaluations of an Enhanced Total Hydrocarbon Analyzer With Complex Mixtures of Volatile Organic Compounds

From the earliest manned missions, the volatile organic compound (VOC) content of spacecraft air has been a concern because of a much greater potential for contamination than air in most terrestrial settings. First, the volume of air is small compared to the mass of man- made materials comprising the interior furnishings of the spacecraft. These man-made materials offgas VOCs trapped during manufacture. Second, the nitrogen fraction of the air is recycled. Any VOCs not scrubbed out with charcoal filters or aqueous condensate (mainly water expired by the crew) will accumulate in the air. Third, the crew emits metabolic VOCs. Fourth, experimental payloads can also offgas or accidentally release a VOC; in fact a major organic constituent of the atmosphere is the disinfectant isopropanol released from swabs used in medical experiments.

Cross, John H.↗
NASA NTRS1978

HCN - A plausible source of purines, pyrimidines and amino acids on the primitive earth

Dilute (0.1 M) solutions of HCN condense to oligomers at pH 9.2, and hydrolysis of these oligomers yields 4,5-dihydroxypyrimidine, orotic acid, 5-hydroxyuracil, adenine, 4-aminoimidazole-5-carboxamide, and amino acids. It is suggested that the three main classes of nitrogen-containing biomolecules - purines, pyrimidines, and amino acids may have originated from HCN on the primitive earth. It is also suggested that the presence of orotic acid and 4-aminoimidazole-5-carboxamide might indicate that contemporary biosynthetic pathways for nucleotides evolved from the compounds released on hydrolysis of HCN oligomers.

Ferris, J.-P.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Lunar nitrogen: Secular variation or mixing?

The two current models to explain the nearly 40% variation of the lunar nitrogen isotopic composition are: (1) secular variation of solar wind nitrogen; and (2) a two component mixing model having a constant, heavy solar wind admixed with varying amounts of indigenous light lunar N (LLN). Both models are needed to explain the step pyrolysis extraction profile. The secular variation model proposes that the low temperature release is modern day solar wind implanted into grain surfaces, the 900 C to 1100 C release is from grain surfaces which were once exposed to the ancient solar wind but which are now trapped inside agglutinates, and the >1100 C release as spallogenic N produced by cosmic rays. The mixing model ascribes the components to solar wind, indigenous lunar N and spallogenic N respectively. An extension of either interpretation is that the light N seen in lunar breccias or deep drill cores represent conditions when more N-14 was available to the lunar surface.

Norris, S. J.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Carbon-rich particles in Comet Halley

The majority of particles detected in the coma of Comet Halley contain carbon atoms; many of these grains appear to consist preponderately or only of light elements. These light-element particles may be composed of organic compounds. Of the possible combinations of the elements hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, numerous examples are found of particles containing the combinations (H,C,O,N), (H,C,N), (H,C,O), and (H,C). These results may bear on the recent detection of polyoxymethylene fragments, the observation of cyanojets (CN patterns consistent with release from solid particles), the possible presence of cyanopolyacetylenes or HCN polymer and the make-up of the CHON particles. If cometary matter could reach the surface of the earth without complete disruption, these diverse organic and mixed particles could create unique microenvironments, possibly with significant or even pivotal prebiotic chemical activity. Here a speculative insight into possible relationships between carbon in comets and carbon in life is given, as well as a brief overview of on-going analysis of data from the highly successful Particle Impact Analyzer (PIA) experiment flown on the Giotto spacecraft for the flyby of Comet Halley (development and implementation of PIA was under the direction of J. Kissel of the Max Planck Institute for Kernphysik, Heidelberg). PIA is a time-of-flight analyzer which obtains mass spectra of ions from individual particles impacting on a Pt-Ag foil target within the instrument.

Clark, Benton C.↗
DOE OSTI2020

Supply Chain Sustainability Analysis of Renewable Hydrocarbon Fuels via Indirect Liquefaction, Ex Situ Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis, Hydrothermal Liquefaction, Combined Algal Processing, and Biochemical Conversion: Update of the 2019 State-of-Technology Cases

This technical report describes the supply chain sustainability analysis (SCSAs) for the production of renewable hydrocarbon transportation fuels via a range of conversion technologies: (1) renewable high octane gasoline (HOG) via indirect liquefaction (IDL) of woody lignocellulosic biomass (note that the IDL pathway in this SCSA represents the syngas conversion design in the 2019 SOT); (2) renewable gasoline (RG) and diesel (RD) blendstocks via ex situ catalytic fast pyrolysis of woody lignocellulosic biomass; (3) RD via hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of wet sludge from a wastewater treatment plant; (4) renewable hydrocarbon fuels via biochemical conversion of herbaceous lignocellulosic biomass; (5) renewable diesel via HTL of a blend of algae and woody biomass; and (6) renewable diesel via combined algae processing (CAP). This technical report focuses on the environmental performance of these six biofuel production pathways in their 2019 SOT cases. The results of these renewable hydrocarbon fuel pathways in these SCSA analyses update those for the respective 2018 SOT cases. They also provide an opportunity to examine the impact of technology improvements in both biomass feedstock production and biofuel production that have been achieved in 2019 SOTs on the sustainability performance of these renewable transportation fuels, and they reflect updates to Argonne National Laboratory’s Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation (GREET®) model, which was released in October 2019. These GREET updates include the production of natural gas, electricity, and petroleum-based fuels that can influence biofuels’ supply chain greenhouse gas (GHG) (CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O) emissions, water consumption, and air pollutant emissions. GHG emissions, water consumption, and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) emissions are the main sustainability metrics assessed in this analysis. In this analysis, we define water consumption as the amount of water withdrawn from a freshwater source that is not returned (or returnable) to a freshwater source at the same level of quality. Life-cycle fossil energy consumption and net energy balance, which is the life-cycle fossil energy consumption deducted from the renewable biofuel energy produced, are also assessed.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
NASA NTRS1991

The formation of peroxonitrites and oxygen on Mars

When Martian regolith samples are moistened with water, a strong oxidant and oxygen gas are released. The many possible oxidants which have been suggested as present, including superoxide (O2(-)) hydrogen peroxide (H2O2(-)), and manganese (IV) oxide (MnO2), as well as peroxonitrite (ONOO(-)), can be distinguished by their ability to account for the numerous observations of the Viking Labelled Release (LR) and Gas Exchange (GEX) experiments. The magnitudes, kinetics, and heat labilities of the LR experiments and the magnitudes and heat labilities of the GEX experiments have been quantitatively replicated with peroxonitrites. Further, it is to be expected from information about the photochemistry of nitrogen in the atmosphere, the calculated fluxes of the NO(x) to the surface, the known reactions of NO(x) with carbonates to produce nitrates and photolysis studies of nitrates, that peroxonitrites are present on Mars. However, considerable uncertainty has existed about the form in which oxygen is stored in photolyzed nitrate crystals. Models have ranged from micropores of O2 to chemically bound oxygen as peroxonitrite (O2NOO(-)), as well as peroxonitrite. Studies of the solution chemistry and solid state photochemistry were completed, which show that much of the oxygen evolved on wetting comes from thermal breakdown of peroxonitrite after it is dissolved. A chemical model is developed for the photochemical processes occurring during UV irradiation of solid nitrates which resolves the several contradictory models discussed in the literature in recent years.

Plumb, Robert C.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Novel metabolic interactions and environmental conditions mediate the boreal peatmoss-cyanobacteria mutualism

Abstract Interactions between Sphagnum (peat moss) and cyanobacteria play critical roles in terrestrial carbon and nitrogen cycling processes. Knowledge of the metabolites exchanged, the physiological processes involved, and the environmental conditions allowing the formation of symbiosis is important for a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying these interactions. In this study, we used a cross-feeding approach with spatially resolved metabolite profiling and metatranscriptomics to characterize the symbiosis between Sphagnum and Nostoc cyanobacteria. A pH gradient study revealed that the Sphagnum–Nostoc symbiosis was driven by pH, with mutualism occurring only at low pH. Metabolic cross-feeding studies along with spatially resolved matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) identified trehalose as the main carbohydrate source released by Sphagnum, which were depleted by Nostoc along with sulfur-containing choline-O-sulfate, taurine and sulfoacetate. In exchange, Nostoc increased exudation of purines and amino acids. Metatranscriptome analysis indicated that Sphagnum host defense was downregulated when in direct contact with the Nostoc symbiont, but not as a result of chemical contact alone. The observations in this study elucidated environmental, metabolic, and physiological underpinnings of the widespread plant–cyanobacterial symbioses with important implications for predicting carbon and nitrogen cycling in peatland ecosystems as well as the basis of general host-microbe interactions.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗