Carbon Dioxide Reduction Catalysis to Eliminate the Need for Rebreathers in Diving Operations
Abstract
Current diving operations benefit from the use of a rebreather (i) by extending the breathing endurance of the diver and (ii) for co,vert operations by eliminating the bubbles produced from exhaled gas from the diver. Interestingly, modern-day rebreathers rely on a, chemistry developed over 270 years ago and a technology to implement that chemistry from 140 years ago. New science, resulting from, the proposed workplan, will open a viable path for eliminating a rebreather completely by allowing CO2 to be scrubbed on the fly in, the undersea environment. Specific objectives of the proposal to eliminate a rebreather but maintain the ability to scrub carbon di,oxide (CO2) from a divers exhalant are along two technological lines: (1) as a drop-in replacement integrated to current breathing,technology (i.e., oxygen tanks) and (2) integration with emerging research that seeks to generate breathable oxygen (O2) from seawat,er. For (1), molecular catalysts will be developed that are efficient carbonic anhydrase mimics to produce seawater-soluble carbonat,e salts. For (2), new research in ONR programs to generate O2 from seawater directly during diving operations offers the opportunity, to eliminate the rebreather while preserving all its benefits. Hydrogen (H2) is produced as the byproduct of O2 generation from sea,water. Catalysts will be developed to combine H2 with the CO2 expired from the diver to produce salts or liquids that may directly d,issolve into seawater. With regard to the relevance of the proposed research to the ONR mission, the science resulting from the prop,osed workplan will provide the first new rebreather chemistry, which dates back to almost 300 years. Importantly, it provides the fi,rst viable path for eliminating a rebreather, allowing CO2 to be scrubbed on the fly in the undersea environment. This will offer gr,eater flexibility in undersea operations as the bulk on the divers backpack is reduced. Additionally, by eliminating the rebreather, backpack, new capabilities are available for multi-domain operations as the backpack would not need to be managed during sea and la,nd transitions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 08, 2022
- Source ID
- N000142212470
Entities
People
- Daniel G. Nocera
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- President and Fellows of Harvard College
- United States Navy