Download/Pdf/42817315.Pdf (Accessed on 25 June 2021)

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Download/Pdf/42817315.Pdf (Accessed on 25 June 2021) life Review Biologically-Based and Physiochemical Life Support and In Situ Resource Utilization for Exploration of the Solar System—Reviewing the Current State and Defining Future Development Needs Ryan J. Keller *, William Porter, Karthik Goli, Reece Rosenthal, Nicole Butler and Jeffrey A. Jones Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; [email protected] (W.P.); [email protected] (K.G.); [email protected] (R.R.); [email protected] (N.B.); [email protected] (J.A.J.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: The future of long-duration spaceflight missions will place our vehicles and crew outside of the comfort of low-Earth orbit. Luxuries of quick resupply and frequent crew changes will not be available. Future missions will have to be adapted to low resource environments and be suited to use resources at their destinations to complete the latter parts of the mission. This includes the production of food, oxygen, and return fuel for human flight. In this chapter, we performed a review of the current literature, and offer a vision for the implementation of cyanobacteria-based bio-regenerative life support systems and in situ resource utilization during long duration expeditions, using the Moon and Mars for examples. Much work has been done to understand the nutritional benefits of Citation: Keller, R.J.; Porter, W.; Goli, cyanobacteria and their ability to survive in extreme environments like what is expected on other K.; Rosenthal, R.; Butler, N.; Jones, J.A. Biologically-Based and celestial objects. Fuel production is still in its infancy, but cyanobacterial production of methane is Physiochemical Life Support and In a promising front. In this chapter, we put forth a vision of a three-stage reactor system for regolith Situ Resource Utilization for processing, nutritional and atmospheric production, and biofuel production as well as diving into Exploration of the Solar System— what that system will look like during flight and a discussion on containment considerations. Reviewing the Current State and Defining Future Development Needs. Keywords: life support; atmospheric revitalization; in situ resource utilization; space exploration; Life 2021, 11, 844. https://doi.org/ planetary habitat; transfer vehicle; BLSS; ISRU; cyanobacteria; methane 10.3390/life11080844 Academic Editor: Daniela Billi 1. Introduction Received: 3 July 2021 When planning long-distance spaceflight missions, it becomes critical to create ways Accepted: 7 August 2021 Published: 18 August 2021 to reduce IMLEO (initial mass in low earth orbit) while also ensuring that the systems that increase IMLEO are reliable and have enough redundancies to ensure the success of the Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral mission. Multiple probes and rovers have already been sent to Mars, but future missions with regard to jurisdictional claims in will add new complications in keeping humans alive and returning them home safely, published maps and institutional affil- requiring food, oxygen, carbon dioxide scrubbing, and propellants for the transit vehicle iations. and DAV (Descent/Ascent Vehicle). The current systems utilized on board spacecraft are physical-chemical, relying on both renewable and nonrenewable resources that are limited and require occasional resupply [1]. The current systems will not support a long-duration mission outside of LEO (Low Earth Orbit), and resupply to Mars, for example, will be both long and expensive. BLSS/ISRU (Bioregenerative Life Support System/In-Situ Resource Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Utilization) attempts to tackle these problems. This article is an open access article Lunar and Martian regolith contain many useful elements and compounds for survival, distributed under the terms and but at the moment, they do not exist in a form that satisfies our life support needs. The conditions of the Creative Commons Martian atmosphere contains 95% carbon dioxide and is very thin and inhospitable for Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// humans and broad forms of life. Cyanobacteria are ancient photosynthetic organisms on creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ Earth that are believed to be responsible for terraforming and oxygenating the planet to 4.0/). support higher orders of life. They are very effective sources of oxygen production, produce Life 2021, 11, 844. https://doi.org/10.3390/life11080844 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/life Life 2021, 11, 844 2 of 41 Life 2021, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 42 many useful compounds, and are used throughout the world as a nutritional supplement for their high protein content and wide resumé of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. 2.2.Such Food a versatile organism has the potential to revolutionize the way we operate life support systemsFor this in space. reference Inflight astronaut, BLSS would da needily to food provide is estimated oxygen and to food measur for thee crew at 0.80 for kg dry mass before interplanetary travel, thereby reducing dependence on foodstuffs and oxygen stores taken thefrom addition Earth. For of Planetarypreparatory ISRU, water. a three-stage According system isto being the FDA, proposed. the Stage average 1 will human be adult requires approximatelyresponsible for bioweathering 2000 kcal/day regolith made by siderophilicup of approximately cyanobacteria to78 free g of up fat non-organic (with 20 g of saturated fats andelements 300 mg and of create cholesterol), organic compounds 275 g of for carbohydrate photobioreactors, growth.2300 mg Stage of 2sodium, will involve 28 g of fiber, and 50 g a photobioreactor with species of cyanobacteria that will be responsible for production of ofprotein oxygen, [4]. fixation These of numbers carbon dioxide, are different and accumulation depending of biomass on the for source use in used human and vary to a certain degreeconsumption depending and fuel on for the subsequent size and operations. sex of the Stage person 3 will involvein question. a third bioreactorAstronauts performing sig- nificantresponsible physical for the activity creation of such biofuels as (methane)exercise forcountermeasures use in the DAV. and planetary surface EVA (ap- proximately2. Human Living 8 h EVA, Requirements 8 h IVS, and 8 h of sleep) will have additional caloric demands to main- tain boneThe introductionhealth, muscle of the mass, human et elementc., of an to theadditional mission is 500–1000 the basis for kcal/day. research into this field and establishes the need for generation of consumables and fuel during the 2.3.mission. Water While we have developed technology and food packaging for efficient long-term storage and use of foodstuffs, oxygen reserves, and carbon dioxide scrubbing, using these for aThe mission reference duration astronaut longer than thatis also of an expected ISS expedition to requireshave a a daily look into requirement a more of 2.79 kg of drinkingcyclical process. water Instead in addition of letting to material the 0.50 fall kg into needed a sink of inertfor food material, preparation BLSS systems and the 0.76 kg that can complete the circle to reorganize human waste, combined with harvested materials, alreadyinto usable exists consumables. in the Tofood. set a baseThis for water this discussion, is then we expected must discuss to the leave expected the astronaut in the amountsconsumable of 3.04 requirement kg from of the perspiration human body inand space. respiratory Ewert and Stromgrenwater, 1.40 conducted kg in the urine, and 0.09 kga in review feces. of experimentsSome flight and surgeons literature and advocate constructed up ato frame 3 L/day/crewmember for the metabolic mass to reduce the risk balance for an 82 kg reference astronaut during long-duration missions. These values ofwould urolithiasis vary with theduring size of theprolonged crewmember periods as well as of the hypogravity exercise regimen ofexposure. the day with It is not clear how muchsome bone days only mineral completing preservation the required exercises occurs with with the 0. potential16 or of0.3 other g exposure days requiring on the surface of the Moonsubstantial or Mars, movement so it andis not lifting clear while what setting the up risk experiments of calciuria and SHAB associated duties [1]. with For bone loss will be. specific effects of increased activity among the crew, the 41 node METMAN model should be consulted.Water is This provided is a model for that missions divides the humanthrough body direct into ten transportation, cylindrical elements byproducts of fuel combustion,each composed and of four reclamation compartments of (core, carbon muscle, dioxide fat, and through skin), and thethe heat Sabatier generation reaction [1]. Current theoreticalof each element estimates is calculated posit [2]. that Increased about heat 5.33 generation kg of willwater result can in the be need recycled for more and made available kcal, necessitating more food, oxygen, and a larger reactor. This is one reason that would forjustify use deployingwhile the a largerhuman reactor requirement than would be is thought only 5.03 necessary. kg [1]. In total,However, a 3–4-person Ewert and Stromgren statecrew that is expected with the to process potential 17.22–22.96 for loss kg ofthrough consumables processes a day. The including NASA DRA towels 5.0 for hygiene and disposedprovides awipes, great illustration the margin of the metabolicis too small requirements for comfort. and products of a 4 person crew in Figure1[3]. Figure 1. Inputs and outputs for a four-person crew [3]. Figure 1. Inputs and outputs for a four-person crew [3]. 3. History of Life Support System Designs 3.1. Lunar-Mars Life Support Test Project With a discussion of the future of life support systems, it becomes necessary to dis- cuss the developmental history of these regenerative systems. The first development that we will review is The Lunar-Mars Life Support Test Project (LMLSTP), which was a multi- phase experiment conducted from 1995–1997 designed to evaluate the efficacy of human- in-the-loop, closed-environment life support systems in supporting crew habitation.
Recommended publications
  • Planetary Geologic Mappers Annual Meeting
    Program Lunar and Planetary Institute 3600 Bay Area Boulevard Houston TX 77058-1113 Planetary Geologic Mappers Annual Meeting June 12–14, 2018 • Knoxville, Tennessee Institutional Support Lunar and Planetary Institute Universities Space Research Association Convener Devon Burr Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, University of Tennessee Knoxville Science Organizing Committee David Williams, Chair Arizona State University Devon Burr Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, University of Tennessee Knoxville Robert Jacobsen Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, University of Tennessee Knoxville Bradley Thomson Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, University of Tennessee Knoxville Abstracts for this meeting are available via the meeting website at https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/pgm2018/ Abstracts can be cited as Author A. B. and Author C. D. (2018) Title of abstract. In Planetary Geologic Mappers Annual Meeting, Abstract #XXXX. LPI Contribution No. 2066, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston. Guide to Sessions Tuesday, June 12, 2018 9:00 a.m. Strong Hall Meeting Room Introduction and Mercury and Venus Maps 1:00 p.m. Strong Hall Meeting Room Mars Maps 5:30 p.m. Strong Hall Poster Area Poster Session: 2018 Planetary Geologic Mappers Meeting Wednesday, June 13, 2018 8:30 a.m. Strong Hall Meeting Room GIS and Planetary Mapping Techniques and Lunar Maps 1:15 p.m. Strong Hall Meeting Room Asteroid, Dwarf Planet, and Outer Planet Satellite Maps Thursday, June 14, 2018 8:30 a.m. Strong Hall Optional Field Trip to Appalachian Mountains Program Tuesday, June 12, 2018 INTRODUCTION AND MERCURY AND VENUS MAPS 9:00 a.m. Strong Hall Meeting Room Chairs: David Williams Devon Burr 9:00 a.m.
    [Show full text]
  • Capture and Reuse of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) for a Plastics Circular Economy: a Review
    processes Review Capture and Reuse of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) for a Plastics Circular Economy: A Review Laura Pires da Mata Costa 1 ,Débora Micheline Vaz de Miranda 1, Ana Carolina Couto de Oliveira 2, Luiz Falcon 3, Marina Stella Silva Pimenta 3, Ivan Guilherme Bessa 3,Sílvio Juarez Wouters 3,Márcio Henrique S. Andrade 3 and José Carlos Pinto 1,* 1 Programa de Engenharia Química/COPPE, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, CP 68502, Rio de Janeiro 21941-972, Brazil; [email protected] (L.P.d.M.C.); [email protected] (D.M.V.d.M.) 2 Escola de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, CP 68525, Rio de Janeiro 21941-598, Brazil; [email protected] 3 Braskem S.A., Rua Marumbi, 1400, Campos Elíseos, Duque de Caxias 25221-000, Brazil; [email protected] (L.F.); [email protected] (M.S.S.P.); [email protected] (I.G.B.); [email protected] (S.J.W.); [email protected] (M.H.S.A.) * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +55-21-3938-8709 Abstract: Plastic production has been increasing at enormous rates. Particularly, the socioenvi- ronmental problems resulting from the linear economy model have been widely discussed, espe- cially regarding plastic pieces intended for single use and disposed improperly in the environment. Nonetheless, greenhouse gas emissions caused by inappropriate disposal or recycling and by the Citation: Pires da Mata Costa, L.; many production stages have not been discussed thoroughly. Regarding the manufacturing pro- Micheline Vaz de Miranda, D.; Couto cesses, carbon dioxide is produced mainly through heating of process streams and intrinsic chemical de Oliveira, A.C.; Falcon, L.; Stella transformations, explaining why first-generation petrochemical industries are among the top five Silva Pimenta, M.; Guilherme Bessa, most greenhouse gas (GHG)-polluting businesses.
    [Show full text]
  • Genome-Resolved Meta-Analysis of the Microbiome in Oil Reservoirs Worldwide
    microorganisms Article Genome-Resolved Meta-Analysis of the Microbiome in Oil Reservoirs Worldwide Kelly J. Hidalgo 1,2,* , Isabel N. Sierra-Garcia 3 , German Zafra 4 and Valéria M. de Oliveira 1 1 Microbial Resources Division, Research Center for Chemistry, Biology and Agriculture (CPQBA), University of Campinas–UNICAMP, Av. Alexandre Cazellato 999, 13148-218 Paulínia, Brazil; [email protected] 2 Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Rua Monteiro Lobato 255, Cidade Universitária, 13083-862 Campinas, Brazil 3 Biology Department & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal, Campus de Santiago, Avenida João Jacinto de Magalhães, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; [email protected] 4 Grupo de Investigación en Bioquímica y Microbiología (GIBIM), Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Cra 27 calle 9, 680002 Bucaramanga, Colombia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +55-19981721510 Abstract: Microorganisms inhabiting subsurface petroleum reservoirs are key players in biochemical transformations. The interactions of microbial communities in these environments are highly complex and still poorly understood. This work aimed to assess publicly available metagenomes from oil reservoirs and implement a robust pipeline of genome-resolved metagenomics to decipher metabolic and taxonomic profiles of petroleum reservoirs worldwide. Analysis of 301.2 Gb of metagenomic information derived from heavily flooded petroleum reservoirs in China and Alaska to non-flooded petroleum reservoirs in Brazil enabled us to reconstruct 148 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of high and medium quality. At the phylum level, 74% of MAGs belonged to bacteria and 26% to archaea. The profiles of these MAGs were related to the physicochemical parameters and recovery management applied.
    [Show full text]
  • Methane Production on Rock and Soil Substrates by Methanogens: Implications for Life on Mars
    Bioastronomy 2007: Molecules, Microbes, and Extraterrestrial Life ASP Conference Series, Vol. 420, 2009 K. J. Meech, J. V. Keane, M. J. Mumma, J. L. Siefert, and D. J. Werthimer, eds. Methane Production on Rock and Soil Substrates by Methanogens: Implications for Life on Mars H. A. Kozup and T. A. Kral 1West Virginia University, WV 26505 2Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 72701 Abstract. In order to understand the methanogens as models for possible life on Mars, and some of the factors likely to be important in determining their abundance and distribution, we have measured their ability to produce methane on a few types of inorganic rock and soil substrates. Since organic ma- terials have not been detected in measurable quantities at the surface of Mars, there is no reason to believe that they would exist in the subsurface. Samples of three methanogens (Methanosarcina barkeri, Methanobacterium formicicum, and Methanothermobacter wolfeii) were placed on four substrates (sand, gravel, basalt, and a Mars soil simulant, JSC Mars-1) and methane production mea- sured. Glass beads were used as a control substrate. As in earlier experiments with JSC Mars-1 soil simulant, a crushed volcanic tephra, methane was pro- duced by all three methanogens when placed on the substrates, sand and gravel. None produced methane on basalt in these experiments, a mineral common in Martian soil. While these substrates do not represent the full range of materials likely to be present on the surface of Mars, the present results suggest that while some surface materials on Mars may not support this type of organism, others might.
    [Show full text]
  • Implementation of Electrofuel Production at a Biogas Plant Case Study at Borås Energi & Miljö Master’S Thesis Within the Sustainable Energy Systems Programme
    Biogas Digester Rawgas Gas upgrade Gas CO2 Biogas Organic waste Sabatier reactor Implementation of electrofuel production at a biogas plant Case study at Borås Energi & Miljö Master’s Thesis within the Sustainable Energy Systems programme TOBIAS JOHANNESSON Department of Energy and Environment Division of Physical Resource Theory Chalmers University of Technology Göteborg, Sweden 2016 FRT 2016:03 master’s thesis Implementation of electrofuel production at a biogas plant Case study at Borås Energi & Miljö Master’s Thesis within the Sustainable Energy Systems programme tobias johannesson supervisors: Stavros Papadokonstantakis & Camilla Ölander Examiner Maria Grahn Department of Energy and Environment Division of Physical Resource Theory chalmers university of technology Göteborg, Sweden 2016 Implementation of electrofuel production at a biogas plant Case study at Borås Energi & Miljö Master’s Thesis within the Sustainable Energy Systems programme TOBIAS JOHANNESSON FRT 2016:03 © TOBIAS JOHANNESSON, 2016 Department of Energy and Environment Division of Physical Resource Theory Chalmers University of Technology SE-412 96 Göteborg Sweden Telephone: + 46 (0)31-772 10 00 Cover: Schematic picture over a simplified biogas process with an implemented Sabatier reactor. Chalmers Reproservice Göteborg, Sweden 2016 Implementation of electrofuel production at a biogas plant Case study at Borås Energi & Miljö Master’s Thesis within the Sustainable Energy Systems programme TOBIAS JOHANNESSON Department of Energy and Environment Division of Physical Resource Theory Chalmers University of Technology Abstract One way to decrease the emissions of greenhouse gases is to use a renewable vehicle fuel, such as biogas. By separating methane from carbon dioxide in raw gas in a gas upgrading system, biogas is produced.
    [Show full text]
  • Martian Crater Morphology
    ANALYSIS OF THE DEPTH-DIAMETER RELATIONSHIP OF MARTIAN CRATERS A Capstone Experience Thesis Presented by Jared Howenstine Completion Date: May 2006 Approved By: Professor M. Darby Dyar, Astronomy Professor Christopher Condit, Geology Professor Judith Young, Astronomy Abstract Title: Analysis of the Depth-Diameter Relationship of Martian Craters Author: Jared Howenstine, Astronomy Approved By: Judith Young, Astronomy Approved By: M. Darby Dyar, Astronomy Approved By: Christopher Condit, Geology CE Type: Departmental Honors Project Using a gridded version of maritan topography with the computer program Gridview, this project studied the depth-diameter relationship of martian impact craters. The work encompasses 361 profiles of impacts with diameters larger than 15 kilometers and is a continuation of work that was started at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas under the guidance of Dr. Walter S. Keifer. Using the most ‘pristine,’ or deepest craters in the data a depth-diameter relationship was determined: d = 0.610D 0.327 , where d is the depth of the crater and D is the diameter of the crater, both in kilometers. This relationship can then be used to estimate the theoretical depth of any impact radius, and therefore can be used to estimate the pristine shape of the crater. With a depth-diameter ratio for a particular crater, the measured depth can then be compared to this theoretical value and an estimate of the amount of material within the crater, or fill, can then be calculated. The data includes 140 named impact craters, 3 basins, and 218 other impacts. The named data encompasses all named impact structures of greater than 100 kilometers in diameter.
    [Show full text]
  • Histone Variants in Archaea and the Evolution of Combinatorial Chromatin Complexity
    Histone variants in archaea and the evolution of combinatorial chromatin complexity Kathryn M. Stevensa,b, Jacob B. Swadlinga,b, Antoine Hochera,b, Corinna Bangc,d, Simonetta Gribaldoe, Ruth A. Schmitzc, and Tobias Warneckea,b,1 aMolecular Systems Group, Quantitative Biology Section, Medical Research Council London Institute of Medical Sciences, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom; bInstitute of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom; cInstitute for General Microbiology, University of Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany; dInstitute of Clinical Molecular Biology, University of Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany; and eDepartment of Microbiology, Unit “Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell,” Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France Edited by W. Ford Doolittle, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada, and approved October 28, 2020 (received for review April 14, 2020) Nucleosomes in eukaryotes act as platforms for the dynamic inte- additional histone dimers can be taggedontothistetramertoyield gration of epigenetic information. Posttranslational modifications oligomers of increasing length that wrap correspondingly more DNA are reversibly added or removed and core histones exchanged for (3, 6–9). Almost all archaeal histones lack tails and PTMs have yet to paralogous variants, in concert with changing demands on tran- be reported. Many archaea do, however, encode multiple histone scription and genome accessibility. Histones are also common in paralogs (8, 10) that can flexibly homo- and heterodimerize in
    [Show full text]
  • Anaerobic Digestion of the Microalga Spirulina at Extreme Alkaline Conditions: Biogas Production, Metagenome, and Metatranscriptome
    ORIGINAL RESEARCH published: 22 June 2015 doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.00597 Anaerobic digestion of the microalga Spirulina at extreme alkaline conditions: biogas production, metagenome, and metatranscriptome Vímac Nolla-Ardèvol 1*, Marc Strous 1, 2, 3 and Halina E. Tegetmeyer 1, 3, 4 1 Institute for Genome Research and Systems Biology, Center for Biotechnology, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany, 2 Department of Geoscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, 3 Microbial Fitness Group, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Bremen, Germany, 4 HGF-MPG Group for Deep Sea Ecology and Technology, Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany A haloalkaline anaerobic microbial community obtained from soda lake sediments was Edited by: Mark Alexander Lever, used to inoculate anaerobic reactors for the production of methane rich biogas. The ETH Zürich, Switzerland microalga Spirulina was successfully digested by the haloalkaline microbial consortium + Reviewed by: at alkaline conditions (pH 10, 2.0 M Na ). Continuous biogas production was observed Aharon Oren, and the obtained biogas was rich in methane, up to 96%. Alkaline medium acted The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel as a CO2 scrubber which resulted in low amounts of CO2 and no traces of H2S Ronald Oremland, in the produced biogas. A hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 15 days and 0.25 g United States Geological Survey, USA Spirulina L−1 day−1 organic loading rate (OLR) were identified as the optimal operational *Correspondence: Vímac Nolla-Ardèvol, parameters. Metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analysis showed that the hydrolysis Institute for Genome Research and of the supplied substrate was mainly carried out by Bacteroidetes of the “ML635J-40 Systems Biology, Center for aquatic group” while the hydrogenotrophic pathway was the main producer of methane Biotechnology, University of Bielefeld, Office G2-152, Universitätstraße 27, in a methanogenic community dominated by Methanocalculus.
    [Show full text]
  • Evidence of Shock Metamorphism Effects in Allochthonous Breccia Deposits from the Colônia Crater, São Paulo, Brazil
    International Journal of Geosciences, 2013, 4, 274-282 http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ijg.2013.41A025 Published Online January 2013 (http://www.scirp.org/journal/ijg) Evidence of Shock Metamorphism Effects in Allochthonous Breccia Deposits from the Colônia Crater, São Paulo, Brazil Victor F. Velázquez1, Claudio Riccomini2, José M. Azevedo Sobrinho3, Mikhaela A. J. S. Pletsch1, Alethéa E. Martins Sallun3, William Sallun Filho3, Jorge Hachiro2 1Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil 2Instituto de Geociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil 3Instituto Geológico, Secretaria do Meio Ambiente, São Paulo, Brasil Email: [email protected] Received October 16, 2012; revised November 17, 2012; accepted December 19, 2012 ABSTRACT The 3.6 km-diameter Colônia impact crater, centred at 23˚52'03"S and 46˚42'27"W, lies 40 km to the south-west of the São Paulo city. The structure was formed on the crystalline basement rocks and displays a bowl-shaped with steeper slope near the top that decreases gently toward the centre of the crater. Over recent years were drilled two boreholes inside the crater, which reached a maximum depth of 142 m and 197 m. Geological profile suggests four different lithological associations: 1) unshocked crystalline basement rocks (197 - 140 m); 2) fractured/brecciated basement rocks (140 - 110 m); 3) polymictic allochthonous breccia deposits (110 - 40 m); and 4) post-impact deposits (40 - 0 m). Petrographic characterisation of the polymictic allochthonous breccia reveals a series of distinctive shock-metamorphic features, including, among others, planar deformation features in quartz, feldspar and mica, ballen silica, granular tex- ture in zircon and melt-bearing impact rocks.
    [Show full text]
  • Methanobacterium Paludis Sp. Nov. and a Novel Strain of Methanobacterium Lacus Isolated from Northern Peatlands
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Archived version from NCDOCKS Institutional Repository http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/asu/ Methanobacterium Paludis Sp. Nov. And A Novel Strain Of Methanobacterium Lacus Isolated From Northern Peatlands By: Suzanna L. Brauer, Hinsby Cadillo-Quiroz, Noah Goodson, Joseph B. Yavitt & Stephen H. Zinder Abstract Two mesophilic, hydrogenotrophic methanogens, designated strains SWAN1T and AL-21, were isolated from two contrasting peatlands: a near circumneutral temperate minerotrophic fen in New York State, USA, and an acidic boreal poor fen site in Alaska, USA, respectively. Cells of the two strains were rod-shaped, non- motile, stained Gram-negative and resisted lysis with 0.1 % SDS. Cell size was 0.6 1.5–2.8 mm for strain SWAN1T and 0.45–0.85 1.5–35 mm for strain AL-21. The strains used H2/CO2 but not formate or other substrates for methanogenesis, grew optimally around 32–37 6C, and their growth spanned through a slightly low to neutral pH range (4.7–7.1). Strain AL-21 grew optimally closer to neutrality at pH 6.2, whereas strain SWAN1T showed a lower optimal pH at 5.4–5.7. The two strains were sensitive to NaCl with a maximal tolerance at 160 mM for strain SWAN1T and 50 mM for strain AL-21. Na2S was toxic at very low concentrations (0.01–0.8 mM), resulting in growth inhibition above these values. The DNA G+C content of the genomes was 35.7 mol% for strain SWAN1T and 35.8 mol% for strain AL-21.
    [Show full text]
  • Analyzing Metagenome Data Obtained by High-Throughput Sequencing
    Centrum für Biotechnologie Analyzing Metagenome Data Obtained by High-Throughput Sequencing A. Pühler Center for Biotechnology Bielefeld University International Conference: Getting Post 2010 Biodiversity Targets Right Bragança Paulista/SP, Brazil December 11th – 15th, 2010 Content of Talk • Sequence analysis of the metagenome of a model microbial community • Analysis of assembled contigs and single reads by the help of completely sequenced genomes • The functional and taxonomic analysis of single reads using the software programs MetaSAMS and CARMA • The taxonomic analysis of a model microbial community based on 16S-rDNA sequences Sequence Analysis of the Metagenome of a Model Microbial Community (Part I) • Sequencing devices at the CeBiTec of Bielefeld University • Introduction of the model microbial community residing in an agrigultural biogas production • Sequence analysis of the metagenome of the model microbial community High-Throughput Sequencing Devices at the CeBiTec of Bielefeld University Sequencing techniques high-throughput sequencing ABI 3730xl DNA Genome Sequencer Genome Analyzer Analyzer (Applied GS FLX (Roche) (Illumina, Inc.) Biosystems) Genomics Platform Bioinformatics expertise and environment professional data evaluation Bioinformatics Platform Comparison of Different Sequencing Technologies Sequencing techniques ABI 3730xl DNA Genome Sequencer Genome Analyzer Analyzer (Applied GS FLX (Roche) (Illumina, Inc.) Biosystems) read length: 1100 bp 400 bp 150 bp sequenced bases/run: 0,1 Mb 500 Mb 45 Gb The GS FLX system is evidently best suited for a metagenome analysis since it offers long read length combined with an acceptable output. Metagenome Analysis of a Model Microbial Community Residing in a Biogas Production Plant Using Ultrafast Sequencing Biogas production from primary renewable products Biogas is produced during anaerobic digestion of biomass by specific microbial consortia Characteristics of the Analyzed Biogas Plant Located Close to the City of Bielefeld .
    [Show full text]
  • METHANOGENS AS MODELS for LIFE on MARS. R. L. Mickol1, W. H. Waddell2, and T
    Eighth International Conference on Mars (2014) 1005.pdf METHANOGENS AS MODELS FOR LIFE ON MARS. R. L. Mickol1, W. H. Waddell2, and T. A. Kral1,3, 1Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences, 202 Old Museum Building, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 72701, USA, [[email protected]], 2Dept. of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation, HPER 308, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 72701, USA, 3Dept. of Biological Sciences, SCEN 632, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 72701, USA. Introduction: The discovery of methane in the Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkan- martian atmosphere [1-4] has fueled the study of meth- sas. All four methanogen species were tested in these anogens as ideal candidates for life on Mars. Methano- experiments. Methanogens were grown in their respec- gens are chemoautotrophs from the domain Archaea. tive anaerobic growth media and placed into the cham- These microorganisms utilize hydrogen as an energy ber with a palladium catalyst box to remove residual source and carbon dioxide as a carbon source to pro- oxygen. The chamber was evacuated to a pre- duce methane. Methanogens can be considered ideal determined pressure and filled with 80:20 H2:CO2 gas. candidates for life on Mars because they are anaerobic, This procedure was repeated three times to ensure re- they do not require organic nutrients and are non- moval of the atmosphere. The chamber was then main- photosynthetic, indicating they could exist in sub- tained at the desired pressure (133-143 mbar, 67-72 surface environments. mbar, 33-38 mbar, 6-10 mbar, 7-20 mbar) for the dura- Our lab has studied methanogens as models for life tion of the experiments.
    [Show full text]