Chinese rover finds lunar soil could make oxygen and fuel on the moon

Alex Wilkins

According to an analysis of samples brought back to Earth by the Chang'e 5 rover, lunar soil could be used to make oxygen and other products from chemical reactions that mimic photosynthesis. Any future lunar base needs reliable supplies of such substances.

It is expensive to blast goods into space, so any material that can be found on the moon and that doesn't have to be brought from Earth can save a lot of money.

The sample of lunar soil was examined to see if it could be used as a catalyst for a system that would convert carbon dioxide and water released by astronauts into oxygen, hydrogen and other useful by-products.

They are asking if there is something weird about lunar soil that will prevent us from doing things that we can do with Earth soil.

The sample was analysed using techniques such as electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction to identify components of the soil. They found high levels of iron and magnesium-based compounds that could be useful in a reaction mimicking the photosynthesis that occurs in green plants.

The researchers tested the soil as a catalyst in various chemical reactions that would form part of a photosynthesis-like process to produce hydrogen and oxygen from CO2 and water. They found that the soil wasn't as efficient as catalysts we have on Earth, and that it wasn't good enough to support human life on the moon.

Hecht thinks there are other problems that can be solved. Hecht isn't convinced that the reaction can be performed simply using the moon's cool atmosphere.

The Joule journal has a reference.

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