See other Science/Tech Articles
Title: Army rations rehydrated by urine
Source:
New Scientist Magazine
URL Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6185
Published: Jul 21, 2004
Author: Duncan Graham-Rowe
Post Date: 2006-12-01 15:48:13 by SmokinOPs
Keywords: tasty, excreted, treats
Views: 132
Comments: 8
Would you eat food cooked in your own urine? Food scientists working for the US military have developed a dried food ration that troops can hydrate by adding the filthiest of muddy swamp water or even peeing on it. The ration comes in a pouch containing a filter that removes 99.9 per cent of bacteria and most toxic chemicals from the water used to rehydrate it, according to the Combat Feeding Directorate, part of the US Army Soldier Systems Center in Natick, Massachusetts. This is the same organisation that created the "indestructible sandwich" that will stay fresh for three years (New Scientist print edition, 10 April 2002). The aim is to reduce the amount of water soldiers need to carry. One day's food supply of three meals, weighs 3.5 kilograms but that can be reduced to about 0.4 kilograms with the dehydrated pouches, says spokeswoman Diane Wood. The pouch - containing chicken and rice initially - relies on osmosis to filter the water or urine. When two solutions of different concentrations are separated by a semipermeable membrane, with gaps that allow only water molecules to pass through, the water is drawn to the more concentrated side. Hungry soldier The membranes are made of thin sheets of a cellulose-based plastic, with gaps between the fibres that are just 0.5 nanometres across, too small for bacteria to pass through. A hungry soldier pours dirty water into one end of a foil sachet containing two inner pouches separated by the membrane. The water seeps through the membrane into the dehydrated food on the other side. As it dissolves large molecules in the food, it creates a very high concentration solution. The osmotic pressure created then draws more water through the membrane. Hydration Technology of Albany, Oregon, which makes the membrane, says soldiers should only use urine in an absolute emergency because the membrane is too coarse to filter out urea. The body will not find this toxic over the short term, says Ed Beaudry, an engineer with HTI, but rehydrating food this way in the long term would cause kidney damage.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: All (#0)
I wonder if the military wives standing in the bread line are aware of this? This couldn't possibly be anything but a plus for their situation.
Ah, the wonders of modern military science.
the law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, beg in the streets and steal bread.
We are talking about survival training. Urine is bacteria free and can be used to clean wounds. This would be ideal even for hikers and the like or for emergency rations.
"The desire to rule is the mother of heresies." -- St. John Chrysostom
Best served chilled...just ask some of my old college buddies. :-)
Who's this "we" character? I was talking about needy military families saving on their water bill.
eeeww
the law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, beg in the streets and steal bread.
lol!!! It's a sterile tract unless there's an infection. Yummy.
"The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer."
#2. To: SmokinOPs (#1)
I wonder if the military wives standing in the bread line are aware of this? This couldn't possibly be anything but a plus for their situation
#3. To: bluedogtxn, SmokinOPs (#2)
#4. To: Destro (#3)
Urine is bacteria free and can be used to clean wounds.
Remember...G-d saved more animals than people on the ark. www.siameserescue.org
#5. To: Destro (#3)
We are talking about survival training.
#6. To: SmokinOPs (#0)
#7. To: christine (#6)
#8. To: christine (#6)
---Henry Kissinger, New York Times, October 28, 1973
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest