Scientists prove it's possible to extract water from lunar soil using the microwave

Scientists have ample evidence of water on the Moon. However, it exists in the form of ice mixed with regolith. Researchers have learnt how to extract water from the lunar soil using a microwave.

Here's What We Know

Scientists in the UK and the USA have proven that it is possible to extract water from the lunar soil in two experiments. To do this, they used two types of artificial regolith.

The first test used regolith, which was created from samples taken from the lunar highlands. It was mixed with water in a proportion of 3-15% and placed in a chamber that simulated lunar temperature and pressure.

The resulting artificial regolith was then exposed to microwaves of only 250W for 25 minutes. This is not even enough to heat up food in the microwave. As a result of the experiment, the researchers extracted more than 67% of the water stored in the ground.

The second type of artificial regolith simulated the dark soil of lunar seas. It was subjected to 25 minutes of exposure to microwaves, which allowed 50% of the water to be extracted. Scientists note that heating it for 35 minutes allows up to 90% of water to be extracted.

Interestingly, the higher the concentration of water in the regolith, the lower the success rate of the experiment. When the water content was increased, the extraction rate dropped to 32%. According to the researchers, this is due to the increased distance between the dust particles, which reduces heat transfer.

Source: New Atlas