# Presentation: 126599

## Built-In Plant NutrientBoulder Innovative Technologies (BIT) Inc.,  and ZeoponiX, Inc.Louisville, Colorado

- Innovation
- BIT developed manufacturing methods and demonstrated in many plant growth trials the effectiveness of a combined growth medium and plant nutrient delivery system.  The technology is of interest to NASA for use in the Kennedy Space Center Advanced Life Support (ALS) Breadboard project.   The plant growth system encompasses utilization of nutrients (from waste streams in a space environment) and growth of food plants for long-term space missions.

- Accomplishments
-   Based on the science of* zeoponics*,  a coined word which relates to growing plants 	in a zeolite-based medium and in a fashion similar to hydroponics. This new 	technology covers three areas: materials science, process engineering, and plant 	science.   BIT researched the material science to define the appropriate physical 	and chemical properties of the zeoponic growth media components and the 	interaction of those materials.  BIT developed in bench and pilot scale, material 	and chemical engineering processes to manufacture on a large scale the 	ingredients, the nutrient ion-exchanged zeolite, and the phosphate-other nutrient 	ingredient called synthetic apatite.  This involved chemical process screening, 	fundamental chemical engineering thermodynamics, and kinetic and reaction 	engineering, as well as equipment design, pilot plant construction, process control 	systems,  and materials handling engineering.
-   The technical basis for scaling up to commercial production size was 		accomplished.  Plant growth testing of the zeoponic formulations was conducted 	to establish and refine formulations for improved plant productivity and quality.  	Numerous greenhouse and field trials were conducted, which led to the selection 	of high performance media formulations for several plant types.  Virtually all 	plant growth trials were successful in proving the superior performance of 	zeoponic media compared to conventional media and fertilization systems.

- Sample Turf with and without ZeoPro

- Commercialization
- The commercialization company name is ZeoponiX, Inc., a spinoff company from BIT.  The initial product trademark name is ZeoProTM.
- ZeoponiX operates under two patents which were obtained prior to the SBIR.  Both are exclusively licensed to ZeoponiX by NASA.   Additional patent applications are in process for four or more innovations covering formulations and processes which cannot be released at this time.

- Government/Science Applications
-   The zeoponic science is expected to be directly applied in the 		International Space Station and have applications for ALS on future 		missions to extraterrestrial bodies, such as Mars and the moon.  Plant 	grow trials have used similar zeolite-based technology on the MIR 		missions, including those involving U.S. astronauts.  Zeoponic 		materials have also flown on Space Shuttle missions.  Research is 		being performed at the Kennedy Space Center Biomedical Office’s 		Advanced Life Support and Gravitational Biology (ALSGB) project 		on plant growth and productivity.

- NASA Field Center: Kennedy Space Center
- Date of Update:  May 21, 1998
- Success Story # 10-002

- Points of Contact:
- NASA - Dr. John Sager, JJ-G  407 853-5142
- ZeoponiX - Dr. Richard D. Andrews,
- 303 673-0098
- url: www.zeoponix.com
- 1998 SBIR Phase II; NAS-10-12203