TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Plasma Processing of Water and Inedible Biomass for pH Control and Nutrient Recycling (KSC-TOPS-94)
Closed Special Notice Posted
- Solicitation number
- T2P-KSC-00062
- Agency
-
Marshall Space Flight Center
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 927110 Space Research and Technology
- PSC
- 9999 Miscellaneous Items
- Points of contact
-
- NASA's Technology Transfer Program agency-patent-licensing@mail.nasa.gov
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center has published a Special Notice announcing a technology transfer licensing opportunity for plasma processing technology developed at Kennedy Space Center (KSC-TOPS-94). The technology involves using plasma torches to treat both water and inedible biomass to create pH-controlled, nutrient-enriched water suitable for plant growth. The same plasma system generates nitric acid from water treatment while producing nutrient-rich ash from biomass processing, allowing operators to balance water pH while adding recycled nutrients. The technology also has applications for water sanitation through pH shock treatment and on-demand nitric acid production. NASA is seeking companies interested in obtaining licensing rights to commercialize, manufacture, and market this dual-purpose plasma processing system.
The purpose of this Special Notice is to solicit inquiries from companies interested in licensing this NASA-developed technology for commercial applications, with licensing available on either exclusive or nonexclusive basis and potentially limited to specific fields of use. Interested companies must submit license applications through NASA's Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) by visiting the specified website, with a deadline of July 17, 2026. No specific eligibility criteria are outlined beyond the requirement to submit applications through the ATLAS system, and NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses. The opportunity represents NASA's broader Technology Transfer Program initiative to commercialize government-developed innovations, allowing private sector entities to leverage space agency research for terrestrial applications. Companies with questions can contact NASA's Technology Transfer Program via email using the technology title and their preferred contact information.
Notice text
NASA’s Technology Transfer Program solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses.
THE TECHNOLOGY:
Researchers at Kennedy Space Center have developed a technology that generates plasma activated water in pH ranges that allow for the addition of nitrates and other nutrients to the water while maintaining a healthy pH for plants. A plasma torch is used to treat inedible biomass, generating ash containing nutrients useful for plant growth. The same plasma torch is also used to treat water, which results in the formation of nitric acid that lowers the pH of the water. Adding the plasma generated ash to the plasma treated water can balance the pH of the water to make it suitable for plant growth while simultaneously adding nutrients recycled from the inedible biomass to further enhance plant development. Plasma treatment of water to high and low pH extremes can also be used for sanitation purposes, causing pH shock to undesired organisms. The uniqueness of this process is the adjustability of the pH with one system. The same plasma system can be used to treat both the water and the biomass. Additionally, the technology can be used as an on-demand, point-of-use method for producing nitric acid.
To express interest in this licensing opportunity, please submit a license application through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) by visiting https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/KSC-TOPS-94
If you have any questions, please e-mail NASA’s Technology Transfer Program at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this SAM.gov notice and your preferred contact information. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at https://technology.nasa.gov/.
These responses are provided to members of NASA’s Technology Transfer Program for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.
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