Innovative Method to Extract Water from Moon Soil Discovered by Chinese Scientists
Chinese scientists have discovered a novel method to extract water from lunar soil, marking a significant advancement in space exploration and resource utilization. This groundbreaking research could enhance future lunar missions and pave the way for sustainable human presence on the Moon. The study highlights China's commitment to expanding its capabilities in space technology and contributes valuable insights to the international scientific community.
TroibNews 
Chinese scientists have made a significant breakthrough in extracting water from lunar soil by analyzing samples returned by the Chang'e-5 lunar probe. This discovery is crucial for the development of a future lunar research station.
A research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences uncovered that minerals in lunar soil accumulate considerable amounts of hydrogen due to exposure to solar wind over hundreds of millions of years. When the soil is heated, the hydrogen undergoes a redox reaction with the iron oxide present in the minerals, resulting in the production of water and zero-valent iron. At temperatures reaching 1,000 degrees Celsius, the soil melts and releases water vapor.
Through extensive experiments and analyses, the researchers have established that one gram of lunar soil can generate between 51 to 76 milligrams of water. This translates to one tonne of lunar soil potentially yielding 51 to 76 kilograms of water, equivalent to over 100 bottles, each holding 500 milliliters, sufficient to meet the daily drinking water needs of 50 people.
Upon assessing various minerals, the team found that ilmenite shows considerable promise, as it can produce significant amounts of both water and zero-valent iron simultaneously.
Building on their findings, the researchers proposed a method for lunar water resource development involving the concentration of sunlight using a concave mirror or Fresnel lens. This would heat and melt the lunar soil, allowing the condensation of water vapor into liquid water, which could then be stored in a tank.
Under this method, the extracted water could be electrolyzed to yield oxygen and hydrogen for human respiration and energy use, respectively. Additionally, the zero-valent iron could be utilized as magnetic materials for electronics and for construction purposes. The melted lunar soil has potential applications in brick-making for lunar base construction.
The researchers believe that this approach lays a foundational framework for designing future lunar research stations and space stations. They also intend to deploy devices on upcoming lunar missions to test their concepts.
Water is a critical resource for human survival in establishing a lunar research station and for future interstellar travel plans on the moon. Therefore, prioritizing the exploration of lunar water resources is essential.
Previous studies had primarily concentrated on the natural water sources available on the moon. It has been noted that various minerals in lunar soil contain trace amounts of water, ranging from 0.0001 percent to 0.02 percent of the soil's weight, making it rare and difficult to extract. In contrast, the new method from this research team is estimated to produce 250 times more water from the same volume of lunar soil.
The Chang'e-5 probe, which returned to Earth on December 17, 2020, brought back 1,731 grams of lunar samples for analysis.
(Cover: Chinese researchers conducting scientific analysis of lunar samples. /CMG)
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
A research team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences uncovered that minerals in lunar soil accumulate considerable amounts of hydrogen due to exposure to solar wind over hundreds of millions of years. When the soil is heated, the hydrogen undergoes a redox reaction with the iron oxide present in the minerals, resulting in the production of water and zero-valent iron. At temperatures reaching 1,000 degrees Celsius, the soil melts and releases water vapor.
Through extensive experiments and analyses, the researchers have established that one gram of lunar soil can generate between 51 to 76 milligrams of water. This translates to one tonne of lunar soil potentially yielding 51 to 76 kilograms of water, equivalent to over 100 bottles, each holding 500 milliliters, sufficient to meet the daily drinking water needs of 50 people.
Upon assessing various minerals, the team found that ilmenite shows considerable promise, as it can produce significant amounts of both water and zero-valent iron simultaneously.
Building on their findings, the researchers proposed a method for lunar water resource development involving the concentration of sunlight using a concave mirror or Fresnel lens. This would heat and melt the lunar soil, allowing the condensation of water vapor into liquid water, which could then be stored in a tank.
Under this method, the extracted water could be electrolyzed to yield oxygen and hydrogen for human respiration and energy use, respectively. Additionally, the zero-valent iron could be utilized as magnetic materials for electronics and for construction purposes. The melted lunar soil has potential applications in brick-making for lunar base construction.
The researchers believe that this approach lays a foundational framework for designing future lunar research stations and space stations. They also intend to deploy devices on upcoming lunar missions to test their concepts.
Water is a critical resource for human survival in establishing a lunar research station and for future interstellar travel plans on the moon. Therefore, prioritizing the exploration of lunar water resources is essential.
Previous studies had primarily concentrated on the natural water sources available on the moon. It has been noted that various minerals in lunar soil contain trace amounts of water, ranging from 0.0001 percent to 0.02 percent of the soil's weight, making it rare and difficult to extract. In contrast, the new method from this research team is estimated to produce 250 times more water from the same volume of lunar soil.
The Chang'e-5 probe, which returned to Earth on December 17, 2020, brought back 1,731 grams of lunar samples for analysis.
(Cover: Chinese researchers conducting scientific analysis of lunar samples. /CMG)
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
