NanoBGen – Accessing the functioning and applications of Nano Bubble Generators

Water quality is under pressure worldwide and requires urgent attention according to recent reports, calling for technological development and more cost-effective solutions. One such development is the use of nanobubbels (NBs). NBs have been gaining interest in both scientific and industrial fields over the past years due to their broad applicability and unique characteristics opposed to larger bubbles used in traditional applications, e.g. dissolved air flotation and aeration. NBs is promising in water technology applications, especially in aeration, as due to their small size they provide a large air-water interface and are stable (present in the bulk) for many days. Due to that, different companies have been introducing NBs based technology in the market. The start-up company BIMCO Holland is one of them. They have developed three types of Ultra Fine Bubble (UFB)-generators to integrate in various (household) applications: I) a tap connection for water taps, II) a pipe adaptor for household appliances and III) a shower coupling. In order to prove their concept, BIMCO Holland wants to test the UFB-generators together with NHL Stenden. During these tests, the intended formation of NBs in tap water will be determined, as well as possible effects on the water quality. Additionally, potential applications will be (theoretically) explored, such as reduced water- and surfactant usage and prolonged lifetime of materials and appliances. With NanoBGen, the consortium aims to understand better the functioning of the newly developed UFB-generators. The tests are required to prove the system is (or not) related to the presence of NBs. Also, to support the company finding other applications of the UFB-generators and contribute to bringing the technology to a higher TRL.

Eindrapportage

The NanoBGen explored the potential of ultrafine bubble (UFB) generators to improve water quality and developed an inline monitoring system to evaluate their performance. UFB generators produce "nanobubbles", i.e., tiny gas bubbles of nanometric size, that remain stable in water for very long and are known to enhance oxygen transfer, oxidation processes, and pollutant removal. These properties make nanobubbles a promising technology for sustainable water treatment.

The research focused on two main goals: (1) assessing whether UFB generators influence key water quality parameters such as pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), and dissolved oxygen (DO), and (2) verifying the presence and characteristics of nanobubbles in treated water. To achieve this, a custom experimental setup was designed to simulate household water systems (tap, shower, and pipe). The system integrated sensors for real-time monitoring and included offline analyses using Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) and chemical tests for hardness and composition.

Results showed that UFB generators significantly affected ORP, suggesting enhanced oxidation potential, while pH remained stable and DO exhibited minor variations. Statistical tests confirmed measurable differences between systems with and without UFB generators. However, offline analyses indicated that changes in water composition were minimal, and further investigation would be needed to confirm nanobubble generation and its long-term effects.

This study provides valuable insights into the feasibility of UFB technology for domestic water treatment and highlights the importance of robust monitoring systems. Future research should focus on further confirming nanobubble formation, characterizing their properties, and exploring scalability for larger applications.