According to a study by the University of Waterloo in Canada, the dust that makes up the soil of the Moon, known as regolith, can produce thermal energy. The research was born with the aim of address the practical issues related to the settlement and construction of a base on the Moon. The main problem lies in obtaining the necessary supplies, since the Moon is hostile to life and does not have the same resources as Earth.
Transporting materials to the Moon would be both slow and expensive, considering the journey takes about three days. Large-scale operations to establish a lunar settlement or base would be unprecedented. It would therefore be ideal to use as many local materials as possibleas indicated in numerous studies on the use of on-site resources (ISRU).
The Waterloo researchers suggest that, despite not having all the necessary resources, the Moon does have Lunar soil a chemical composition suitable for many applications. Regolith contains oxides, chemicals composed of oxygen and another element bonded together. These oxides include iron oxide, aluminum oxide and silicon oxide, making regolith a similar material to termite.
There are various methods for processing regolith, most of which involve the warming of the lunar soil up to 1,600 degrees Celsius and electrolysis. The study focused on electrolysis of molten regolithwhich involves the heating to 1,600°C and the application of electricity to cause a chemical reaction that separates metals from oxygen. The main improvement proposed by the researchers consists inprogressively increase the tensionallowing the extraction of different materials starting from potassium at the lowest voltage up to calcium at the highest voltage.
This method does not require additional materials imported from Earth, just a combustion chamber. It is very resource efficient, but requires a lot of energy to maintain heat, especially if you use the progressive tension technique. Although the amount of regolith on the Moon is not infinite, it is unlikely to run out anytime soon.
According to researcher Connor MacRobbie a The Register.
“Regarding the amount of regolith, there is an abundance of fine material on the lunar surface, with a thickness of approximately 5-15 meters, depending on the geographic location on the Moon”
‘Underneath this layer of fine particles are larger rocks and a layer of basalt, which has a similar composition to the outer surface, but which has not been degraded due to the protection of the upper layers,’ MacRobbie explained. “This layer could be excavated and refined to obtain more fine material useful for many of the applications we have in mind.”
While the basic process of collecting and extracting regolith won’t be all that different from land-based mining, MacRobbie anticipates some challenges. Among these, the need to
“Managing the effects of microgravity will be the biggest challenge. Transporting and refining material in zero gravity will require a lot of advanced engineering skills,” he said. “Additionally, mitigation of dust and particles in gear will be an issue to address.”
What could Regolith be used for?
Since the regolith is made up of approximately the 45% oxygenaccording to the study, it will be one key source of breathing air, something absolutely absent on the Moon, which has no atmosphere. Moreover, it can be combined with hydrogen to form wateranother crucial resource for human life.
Oxygen can also be used as fuel, both for a lunar settlement or base and for rockets, which will likely play a critical role in a potential lunar society. Metals like the iron and aluminum contained in the regolith could also find uses, for example in building materials or even rocket fuel, which often contains aluminum as an additive. Although heating these metals to shape them will be challenging without a large energy source, the study predicts that solar panels will do most of the work needed to generate power.
Furthermore, iThe main component of regolith is silicon, a key material for the production of glass and ceramics. Glass will be useful for the production and repair of solar panels, while ceramics will find applications in semiconductors and even as floor tiles.
Being a thermitic material, regolith can also be ignited to reach high temperatures. This is the same technique used to weld railroad tracks, the study notes, and could be used for other applications that require a lot of heat. A similar study also revealed that regolith could be melted directly onto the lunar surface to make roads, landing strips and other smooth surfaces.
The use of regolith will certainly not solve all the problems related to establishing a presence on the Moon, but it will certainly make the project more feasible. However, if regolith represents the future for humans on the Moon, it will need to be handled carefully, as it is thought to have serious side effects on humans, instruments and electronics due to its reactivity and sharp shape. its particles.
