[Iodine-containing urine preservative].

One of the formidable problems of exploration missions is creation of autonomous water-closed life support systems. Sources of water for regeneration could be various water-containing human wastes including urine, the most chemically contaminated liquid. Prior to physical/chemical regeneration, urine first must be decontaminated in order to put a stop to microbiological processes that form harmful and volatile compounds contaminating condensate and drastically reducing the service life of afterpurifucation filters. Bactericide, sporocide and fungicide effectiveness of two iodine-containing preservatives was tested. One of them contains a water solution of iodine--potassium iodide and sulphuric acid. The other has medical poly-vinyl pyrrolidone to neutralize iodine toxicity. The broad antimicrobial spectrum of two iodine-containing urine preservatives and adaptability of microorganisms to a new environment are key arguments for serial use of these and other preservatives in regenerative physical/chemical systems of water supply in space exploration missions.