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Lunar regolith fines - A source of hydrogenThe theoretical evaluation of the lunar regolith fines as a primary source of hydrogen reveals that a minimum order of magnitude increase in hydrogen content is possible in beneficiated fines because both particle size and particle shape play a significant role in the relationship of volume percent of surface coating to grain size. The lunar regolith fines meet the basic requirement for beneficiation because a major portion (minimum two-thirds) of the hydrogen occurs in the less than 20-micron-size fraction, a relatively small part of the fines. Beneficiation should be accomplished by a combination of vibratory screening followed by cyclone and/or possibly electrostatic separation. Early exploitation of the lunar regolith fines for hydrogen probably will be limited to hydrogen obtained as a by-product or co-product from the mining and processing for other elements or materials because a minimum of about 13,600 tons to about 19,600 tons of 100 ppm hydrogen-bearing lunar regolith fines will have to be processed with about 3,100 tons to about 4,500 tons, respectively, of concentrate heated to supply 1 ton of hydrogen, yielding a recovery of about 74 percent to about 51 percent respectively, of the hydrogen.
Document ID
19860045423
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Carter, J. L.
(Texas, University Richardson, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1985
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
86A30161
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG9-99
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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