Researchers at University College Dublin (UCD) have discovered a new energy-efficient method to generate and release substantial volumes of metastable, nano-scale gas bubbles in water, in excess of natural solubility levels. The discovery has the potential to disrupt a number of industries including; wastewater treatment, gas storage, food, bio-pharma and brewing.
The discovery of a new, energy-efficient and easily controlled method to generate and release large volumes of nanobubbles has been made by Professor Niall English and Dr. Mohammad Reza Ghaani at UCD’s School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering. This development in nanobubble science has the potential to dramatically increase gas-transfer rates and deliver a step-change in operational efficiencies of a number of industrial sectors, including; gas storage, wastewater treatment, bio-pharma, brewing, agriculture and food.
Paper co-author, Professor Peter Kusalik, Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, said, “Our work also reveals the molecular origins for the apparent stability of nanobubbles, which might otherwise be expected not to be stable due to their very small size. The origins of the behavior can be traced to the unique structure of the water molecules at boundary between the liquid water and the gas.” “The explanation also accounts for why these otherwise uncharged bubbles can be seen to move when an electric field is applied. Thus, this study is able to provide a clear and consistent explanation to a previously puzzling problem.”
Source: Water World
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