Potential Biological Remediation Strategies for Removing Perchlorate from Martian Regolith

Misra, Gina; Smith, William E.; Garner, Madeline; Loureiro, Rafael Maffei

doi:10.1089/space.2020.0055

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…Furthermore, our simulant did not contain any perchlorates, a compound known to be present on the surface of Mars, nor did we analyse the effects of the regolith’s heavy metals on plant growth. Although perchlorate and heavy metal presence can be remedied with the addition of plants or microbes to the soil [ 21 , 23 ], further research could include toxicity remediation and study the holistic effects that such measures would have on the microbial community and overall conditions for plant growth in the Martian regolith. As we build upon our collective knowledge for Martian agriculture, future studies can incorporate findings to produce a more overarching understanding of the complete scenario on Mars, including all its challenges and adopted solutions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, samples from Mars missions have shown the presence of heavy metals and perchlorates in the Martian regolith across different landing sites [ 20 ], harmful to both plants and humans. However, phytoremediation and bioremediation offer potential solutions to this, where specific plants or microbes can be cultivated to remove such elements from the soil with up to 100% efficacy [ 21 – 23 ]. Moreover, there’s the suggestion that perchlorates would not be present in deeper layers of Martian regolith, since their formation on Mars is proposed to be largely due to the regolith interaction with cosmic radiation and other atmospheric processes [ 24 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intercropping on Mars: A promising system to optimise fresh food production in future martian colonies

Gonçalves,

Wamelink,

van der Putten

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Future colonists on Mars will need to produce fresh food locally to acquire key nutrients lost in food dehydration, the primary technique for sending food to space. In this study we aimed to test the viability and prospect of applying an intercropping system as a method for soil-based food production in Martian colonies. This novel approach to Martian agriculture adds valuable insight into how we can optimise resource use and enhance colony self-sustainability, since Martian colonies will operate under very limited space, energy, and Earth supplies. A likely early Martian agricultural setting was simulated using small pots, a controlled greenhouse environment, and species compliant with space mission requirements. Pea (Pisum sativum), carrot (Daucus carota) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) were grown in three soil types (“MMS-1” Mars regolith simulant, potting soil and sand), planted either mixed (intercropping) or separate (monocropping). Rhizobia bacteria (Rhizobium leguminosarum) were added as the pea symbiont for Nitrogen-fixing. Plant performance was measured as above-ground biomass (g), yield (g), harvest index (%), and Nitrogen/Phosphorus/Potassium content in yield (g/kg). The overall intercropping system performance was calculated as total relative yield (RYT). Intercropping had clear effects on plant performance in Mars regolith, being beneficial for tomato but mostly detrimental for pea and carrot, ultimately giving an overall yield disadvantage compared to monocropping (RYT = 0.93). This effect likely resulted from the observed absence of Rhizobia nodulation in Mars regolith, negating Nitrogen-fixation and preventing intercropped plants from leveraging their complementarity. Adverse regolith conditions—high pH, elevated compactness and nutrient deficiencies—presumably restricted Rhizobia survival/nodulation. In sand, where more favourable soil conditions promoted effective nodulation, intercropping significantly outperformed monocropping (RYT = 1.32). Given this, we suggest that with simple regolith improvements, enhancing conditions for nodulation, intercropping shows promise as a method for optimising food production in Martian colonies. Specific regolith ameliorations are proposed for future research.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intercropping on Mars: A promising system to optimise fresh food production in future martian colonies

Gonçalves,

Wamelink,

van der Putten

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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“…Microbes can also be used to remove toxins from Martian soil such as perchlorates, which are found in high levels in Martian soil and cause a significant reduction in plant survival and productivity 70,71 . Engineered CO 2 -utilizing bacteria expressing perchlorate reduction enzymes have been shown to remove harmful perchlorates from the soil while also adding essential nutrients into the soil, such as chloride ions, oxygen, and water for better plant growth [72][73][74] . Sunikumar et al tested the ability of two perchlorate-reducing soil bacteria, Pseudomonas stutzeri and Azospirillum brasilense, to reduce perchlorates from simulated regolith and found that they removed up to 5 mM and 10 mM of perchlorates, respectively, which corresponded to a removal efficiency of 100% 75 .…”

Section: Plant Cultivationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial applications for sustainable space exploration beyond low Earth orbit

Koehle,

Brumwell,

Seto

et al. 2023

npj Microgravity

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With the construction of the International Space Station, humans have been continuously living and working in space for 22 years. Microbial studies in space and other extreme environments on Earth have shown the ability for bacteria and fungi to adapt and change compared to “normal” conditions. Some of these changes, like biofilm formation, can impact astronaut health and spacecraft integrity in a negative way, while others, such as a propensity for plastic degradation, can promote self-sufficiency and sustainability in space. With the next era of space exploration upon us, which will see crewed missions to the Moon and Mars in the next 10 years, incorporating microbiology research into planning, decision-making, and mission design will be paramount to ensuring success of these long-duration missions. These can include astronaut microbiome studies to protect against infections, immune system dysfunction and bone deterioration, or biological in situ resource utilization (bISRU) studies that incorporate microbes to act as radiation shields, create electricity and establish robust plant habitats for fresh food and recycling of waste. In this review, information will be presented on the beneficial use of microbes in bioregenerative life support systems, their applicability to bISRU, and their capability to be genetically engineered for biotechnological space applications. In addition, we discuss the negative effect microbes and microbial communities may have on long-duration space travel and provide mitigation strategies to reduce their impact. Utilizing the benefits of microbes, while understanding their limitations, will help us explore deeper into space and develop sustainable human habitats on the Moon, Mars and beyond.

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“…The simulant we used in this work is representative of a Mars zone where perchlorates are not in the regolith. Moreover, there are various technologies that have the potential to eliminate perchlorates from regolith, which could make Martian soils, initially containing these hazardous compounds, suitable not only for the cultivation of microalgae and cyanobacteria but also for growing plants [32]. For instance, Devila et al [33] have proposed a method for perchlorate removal from Martian soil, which could also serve for oxygen generation, both for human consumption and for supporting surface operations [33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cultivation of Chroococcidiopsis thermalis Using Available In Situ Resources to Sustain Life on Mars

Fais,

Casula,

Sidorowicz

et al. 2024

Life

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The cultivation of cyanobacteria by exploiting available in situ resources represents a possible way to supply food and oxygen to astronauts during long-term crewed missions on Mars. Here, we evaluated the possibility of cultivating the extremophile cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis thermalis CCALA 050 under operating conditions that should occur within a dome hosting a recently patented process to produce nutrients and oxygen on Mars. The medium adopted to cultivate this cyanobacterium, named Martian medium, was obtained using a mixture of regolith leachate and astronauts’ urine simulants that would be available in situ resources whose exploitation could reduce the mission payload. The results demonstrated that C. thermalis can grow in such a medium. For producing high biomass, the best medium consisted of specific percentages (40%vol) of Martian medium and a standard medium (60%vol). Biomass produced in such a medium exhibits excellent antioxidant properties and contains significant amounts of pigments. Lipidomic analysis demonstrated that biomass contains strategic lipid classes able to help the astronauts facing the oxidative stress and inflammatory phenomena taking place on Mars. These characteristics suggest that this strain could serve as a valuable nutritional resource for astronauts.

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Potential Biological Remediation Strategies for Removing Perchlorate from Martian Regolith

Cited by 7 publications

References 69 publications

Intercropping on Mars: A promising system to optimise fresh food production in future martian colonies

Intercropping on Mars: A promising system to optimise fresh food production in future martian colonies

Microbial applications for sustainable space exploration beyond low Earth orbit

Cultivation of Chroococcidiopsis thermalis Using Available In Situ Resources to Sustain Life on Mars

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