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A Multifunctional Sanitation Method for Food Processing

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NAS9-01083
Agency Tracking Number: 990516
Amount: $574,729.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2001
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2001-06-04
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2003-06-03
Small Business Information
7610 Eastmark Drive, Suite 202
College Station, TX 77840
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 G. Hitchens
 Vice President
 () -
 hitchens@tca.net
Business Contact
 Oliver Murphy
Title: President
Phone: (409) 693-0017
Email: ojmurphy@tca.net
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Long duration space missions either to the moon or to Mars will require food provided from plants grown in life support bioregenerative chambers. These systems will integrate food production with atmosphere regeneration and water recycling, increasing self-sufficiency and decreasing the need for expensive resupply from earth. Since maintaining crew health is of utmost importance, food must be produced and processed under highly sanitary conditions to minimize the risk of food borne diseases. New sanitation methods and procedures are urgently needed to meet this challenge. This proposal concerns the use of a new, totally enclosed vapor phase sterilization system. The device is unique because it operates without using consumable chemicals carried on board or resupplied from earth. The disinfectant that is generated acts against a broad range of potentially pathogenic microorganisms and it is generally safe to apply directly to foods. The disinfectant can also be externally applied to utensils, food preparation surfaces and processing equipment and there are no harmful wastes produced that could impact an integrated bioregenerative system. The proposal includes preliminary test results demonstrating the device¿s operating characteristics. The aim of Phase I is to demostrate the method¿s feasibility as a food sanitizing agent. The long-term goal is to provide sanitation hardware to NASA for use in food processing.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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