Waste biomass recycling - Revision history

Michel Lamontagne: /* Paper */

2024-05-07T13:04:00Z

Paper

2024-05-07T13:02:24Z

Textiles

2024-05-07T13:00:46Z

Fertilizer

2024-05-07T13:00:19Z

Water

2024-05-07T13:00:00Z

Antiseptic

2024-05-07T12:59:24Z

Compost and Feed

2024-05-07T12:59:05Z

Construction Materials

2024-05-07T12:55:28Z

Plant Remnants

2024-05-07T12:55:14Z

Plant Remnants

2024-05-07T12:52:45Z

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 By far the largest source of biomass in a settlement will be plants.  Most plants, including algae, produce significantly more than 50% of their mass in forms that are not digestible by humans.  Plants grown primarily for food and life support can provide several side benefits.  Plants use for food production have, at best, half their mass as biomass and half their mass as food.  So food production also produces similar quantities of biomass.  Some plants, such as cotton, linen and hemp can be grown mainly for their fiber content.
 ===Paper===
-The cell walls of plants contain [[cellulose]], the main component of [[paper]].
+The cell walls of plants contain [[cellulose]], the main component of [[paper]].  Paper will certainly be used on Mars, although much of information support and management on Mars should be paperless.  Paper is a hidden constituent of many construction materials such as laminates and fiberboards.
 ===Textiles===
 From [[grass]] mats to fine [[linen]], [[human|humans]] have been using [[plant fibers]] to make [[textiles]] for thousands of years.  This is likely to continue on Mars.

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 The cell walls of plants contain [[cellulose]], the main component of [[paper]].
 ===Textiles===
-From [[grass]] mats to fine [[linen]], [[human|humans]] have been using [[plant fibers]] to make [[textiles]].
+From [[grass]] mats to fine [[linen]], [[human|humans]] have been using [[plant fibers]] to make [[textiles]] for thousands of years.  This is likely to continue on Mars.
 ===Other Goods===
 [[Corn]] husks, [[wheat]] stalks, and [[vines]] can be made into a variety of goods.

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 Urine contains [[ammonia]] and [[urea]], both useful in industry. [[Saltpeter]] is harvested from stale urine.
 ===Fertilizer===
-Urine contains high levels of [[nitrogen]] and [[phosphorus]].
+Urine contains relatively high levels of [[nitrogen]] and [[phosphorus]].
 ===Water===
 Urine can be filtered or distilled to recover water. This method of [[water reclamation]] is used on the [[International Space Station|ISS]].

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 Urine contains high levels of [[nitrogen]] and [[phosphorus]].
 ===Water===
-Urine can be filtered or distilled to provide water. This method of [[water reclamation]] is used on the [[International Space Station|ISS]].
+Urine can be filtered or distilled to recover water. This method of [[water reclamation]] is used on the [[International Space Station|ISS]].
 ===Antiseptic===
 In extreme emergencies, urine can be used as an [[antiseptic]].

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 ===Antiseptic===
 In extreme emergencies, urine can be used as an [[antiseptic]].
 ===Construction Materials===

@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 ===Compost and Feed===
-Much of the waste biomass of a settlement can be used to feed the organisms in the [[greenhouse|greenhouses]]. [[Mushroom]], certain [[fish]] and [[insects]] feed directly on waste biomass, assimilating its chemical [[energy]] into their own metabolism. A [[compost]] heap is easy to maintain, even in a Martian settlement. Decayed plant remnants and [[feces]], combined with charcoal and lactic acid fermentation, mixed with [[regolith]], gives a high value humus, called [[Terra Preta]]. This would be an excellent [[soil]] for the [[greenhouse]].
+Much of the biomass of a settlement can be used to feed the organisms in the [[greenhouse|greenhouses]]. [[Mushroom]], certain [[fish]] and [[insects]] feed directly on waste biomass, assimilating its chemical [[energy]] into their own metabolism. A [[compost]] heap is easy to maintain, even in a Martian settlement. Decayed plant remnants and [[feces]], combined with charcoal and lactic acid fermentation, mixed with [[regolith]], gives a high value humus, called [[Terra Preta]]. This would be an excellent [[soil]] for the [[greenhouse]].
 ===Trickle Filter C.R.O.P.===

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 ===Construction Materials===
-Biomass has been used in construction since the beginning of human history. [[Wood]] is often used by itself to construct large structures. Dead plants can be mixed with [[cob]] or [[brick]], adding strength.  however, the embodied energy of biomass is quite high, and other materials might be better used as reinforcements.
+Biomass has been used in construction since the beginning of human history. [[Wood]] is often used by itself to construct large structures. Dead plants can be mixed with [[cob]] or [[brick]], adding strength.  However, the embodied energy of biomass is quite high, and other materials might be better used as reinforcements.  On Earth, biomass is part of a self sustaining ecosystem that gets its nutrients and energy from the environment, while on Mars biomass will need to be produced and the energy provided by support systems, including at a minimum greenhouses and probably supplementary lighting.
 ==Miscellaneous Biomass==

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 All [[settlement|settlements]] generate [[biomass]] as a direct result of their biological population. '''Biomass recycling''' and recycling of [[water]] is a vital part of any [[colonization strategy]].
-==Plant Remnants==
+==Plant Biomass==
 By far the largest source of biomass in a settlement will be plants.  Most plants, including algae, produce significantly more than 50% of their mass in forms that are not digestible by humans.  Plants grown primarily for food and life support can provide several side benefits.  Plants use for food production have, at best, half their mass as biomass and half their mass as food.  So food production also produces similar quantities of biomass.  Some plants, such as cotton, linen and hemp can be grown mainly for their fiber content.
 ===Paper===

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:CompostWithEarthworm.jpg|right|frame|Compost with Earthworms]]
 All [[settlement|settlements]] generate [[biomass]] as a direct result of their biological population. '''Biomass recycling''' and recycling of [[water]] is a vital part of any [[colonization strategy]].
 ==Bone==
@@ Line 24: / Line 33: @@
 In extreme emergencies, urine can be used as an [[antiseptic]].
 ===Construction Materials===