UCalgary researchers investigate efficient method of nanobubble generation

Calgary, AB – With the emerging field of nanobubble research taking off over the past decade, two University of Calgary chemists are researching an energy efficient way to produce them. Dr. Peter Kusalik, PhD, and Dr. Susana Kimura Hara, PhD, are investigating the nanoscopic bubbles and their unique properties. Due to their tiny size, nanobubbles are able to form and remain stable in water for extended periods of time. There is also relatively little gas within the bubbles, so nanobubbles are mostly surface area, which allows for a quick exchange between the solution and bubble. Therefore, water with nanonbubbles in it has enhanced properties that could benefit agriculture, medicine, wastewater and other sectors.  

“When I introduce nanobubbles into water, I’ve introduced a whole bunch of extra surface into the system, which is a highly reactive environment that can lead to a lot of interesting chemistries going on.”

Dr. Peter Kusalik, PhD, Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary

A current issue impacting the field of nanobubble research is the amount of energy required to generate them. Currently, mechanical agitation is a common approach for generating nanobubbles. This involves rapidly and aggressively churning or flowing water to produce nanobubbles and microbubbles. These methods use anywhere from 10,000 to one million times more energy than is minimally required to produce nanobubbles. To address this energy issue, the researchers are using a novel approach to nanobubble formation using electrical fields. In this process, a grid of insulated wires is immersed in water and a voltage is applied, and the electric field generated between the wires produces nanobubbles. On top of being more energy efficient, the electric field method can generate a solution exclusively containing nanobubbles with a population of around 100 billion per litre of water.

“I’m interested in nanobubbles because they can make water treatment processes more efficient and faster, which can help increase water sustainability.”

Dr. Susana Kimura Hara, PhD, Associate Professor, CRC Tier 2, Department of Chemistry

A more energy efficient way to produce nanobubbles will make testing their myriad applications easier. Kimura Hara is primarily interested in their use in wastewater and water treatment, where they could make water disinfection more efficient and effective, helping solve the problem of water sustainability. Nanobubbles can be used to introduce ozone – a strong water disinfectant – into water to disinfect and degrade persistent contaminants, and the nanobubbles’ unique properties will make this process faster. The researchers also provided nanobubble-containing water to a local high school student’s science fair project, where the silver medal-winning student, Haley Prosser, found that seedlings watered with nanobubble water grew 40 per cent more than those watered with just water. Other research has found the large surface area of nanobubbles facilitates enhanced dissolution of gases crucial in the fermentation process of beer, which contributes to a better final product of brewing.

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