A cross-industry technology transfer from space to non-space applications, eliminating odours, bacteria, viruses, and pollen from textiles
ESA-backed project uses space technology to eliminate odours, bacteria, viruses, and pollen from textiles. Unpleasant odours in clothes and textiles can subconsciously influence our mood and trigger a range of unwelcome emotions. Washing garments too often not only shortens their life but also pollutes the environment and is costly. A solution to this problem has now been developed with the help of a plasma source developed for space, which was carried out as part of ESA’s cold plasma technology experiments in space.
Using cold plasma technology developed for space, the high-tech device “FreshUp” effectively dissolves odour molecules from textiles without the need to wash or use chemical additives. To do this, cold plasma is induced into the textile, thus initiating the decomposition and oxidation process of odour molecules. This is touch-safe, making it appealing across applications as it can be used whilst wearing the dirty garment.
Image 1: FreshUp textile freshener (Source: Bosch).
Methods for generating cold plasma were first developed at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany (MPE), where the idea of using electrons to generate the plasma for the elimination of bacteria was patented. Experiments on plasma led by Prof. G. Morfill, were conducted on the International Space Station (ISS). His team used the weightlessness in orbit, to provide the impulse for the development of cold plasma technology.
The potential of this space technology was recognised by EurA AG (part of the Broker network of ESA’s technology transfer programme) who initiated a collaboration between Terraplasma (technology donor) and Bosh-Group (technology receiver). This collaboration supported a cross-industry technology transfer from space to non-space applications, resulting in the development and production of the portable yet effective FreshUp device.
Image 2: Bosch FreshUp at work (source: Bosch).
This plasma technology has great potential for applications on Earth. This is especially true for a wide range of uses in the consumer sector, says Johannes Schmidt, member of the executive board at EurA. “It helps that companies are open to new technologies, think creatively and work quickly to bring a new innovative technology to market.”
With no washing machine in space, German astronaut Matthias Maurer tried it out for himself – perhaps something to consider for the ISS in the future.
Image 3: (from left to right) Astronaut Matthias Maurer (ESA) and Johannes Schmidt (EurA AG) (Source: EurA AG).
