mmm...Pee...

[RobBob]

[scottish Daily Record] - July 22, 2004 - Troops could get more than they bargained for the next time they find pea soup in their rations.

 

Scientists have come up with a way to use urine to rehydrate dried food.

 

The ration comes in a pouch containing a filter that gets rid of 99.9 per cent of the toxic chemicals.

 

That means pee - or even the muddiest swamp water - could be used to make battlefield meals.

 

Soldiers' new chow was invented by the US Army's Combat Feeding Directorate in Natick, Massachusetts.

 

Two years ago, the same organisation came up with the 'indestructible sandwich' that stays fresh for three years.

 

The aim of the exercise is to reduce the amount of water soldiers need to carry.

 

One day's food supply of three meals weighs almost 8lb but that can be reduced to less than 1lb with the dehydrated pouches.

 

Prototype pouches contain chicken and rice.

 

A soldier pours liquid into one end of a foil sachet. Inside, it has two pouches separated by a membrane.

 

Holes in the thin sheets of cellulose-based plastic are big enough to let water molecules through but too small for bacteria.

 

US firm Hydration Technology, who make the membrane, say soldiers should only use urine in an absolute emergency because the sachet will not filter out urea - the chemical that makes pee yellow.

 

Although harmless in the short term, constantly rehydrating food this way could cause kidney damage.

 

© 2004 Scottish Daily Record. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved

[bird]

I can see how this technology could be beneficial in the mountains and big walls. I think we need to have someone try it out on el cap or something. If it can clean piss as well as it claims you should be able to use the filtered urine as drinking water too.

[Off_White]

And if you filter it right away you could even make a tepid cup of tea.