Chemically regenerated foods.

The raw materials for the synthesis of food for the crew of a spacecraft would be the major metabolic products carbon dioxide and water. Synthetic processes could develop carbohydrates, fats, or proteins. The one potential method of sugar synthesis which has received most attention makes use of the formose reaction. Various aspects of this method are discussed, giving attention also to the nutritional qualities of formose sugars. Questions regarding the utilization of glycerol, propylene glycol, and ethanol as dietary components are also examined. The possibility is considered to use the triglyceride triacetin as food. The use of free amino acids does not appear promising. Methods are described for the synthesis of formaldehyde from carbon dioxide and the synthesis of glycerol from formaldehyde.