Breakthrough in Nanobubble Technology for Wastewater Treatment

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at the University of Science in Hanoi, Vietnam, have developed a novel method for producing ozone nanobubbles (O/NBs) that can efficiently remove toxic and recalcitrant organic pollutants from water. The process, which combines a nanobubble generator with an ozone generator, has shown promising results in degrading cationic and anionic dyes in a 60 L tank.

Key Takeaways:

  • The researchers produced O/NBs with a high oxygen concentration (45 ± 2.0 mg/L) and oxidation reduction potential (1160 ± 54 mV), which were stable for at least 20 minutes.
  • The generated O/NBs had a unimodal particle distribution with an average diameter of about 140 nm and a number concentration of 8.3 x 10^11 particles/mL.
  • Under optimal conditions, 100% of Direct Blue 71 (DB-71) and 58% of Methylene Blue (MB) were mineralized to form non-toxic products within 16 minutes.
  • The O/NBs-based oxidation process was found to be more efficient than other advanced oxidation processes and showed high potential for scalable applications in wastewater treatment.
  • Authors of the study include Dinh-Trinh Tran, Thi-Duyen To, Thu-Hien Le, Quang-Thuy Dao, and Long D. Nghiem.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and published in the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research.

Statistics:

  • 45 ± 2.0 mg/L: Oxygen concentration in the produced O/NBs
  • 1160 ± 54 mV: Oxidation reduction potential of the produced O/NBs
  • 8.3 x 10^11 particles/mL: Number concentration of the produced O/NBs
  • 140 nm: Average diameter of the produced O/NBs particle distribution
  • 16 minutes: Time required for 100% of DB-71 and 58% of MB to be mineralized
  • 100%: Efficiency of DB-71 removal
  • 58%: Efficiency of MB mineralization
  • 60 L: Volume of the tank used for the wastewater treatment experiment

Sources:

  • Pre-pilot scale degradation of cationic and anionic dyes by ozone nanobubbles. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2025.
  • Environmental Science and Pollution Research, www.springerlink.com/content/0944-1344/
  • University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, No.19 Le Thanh Tong Street, Hoan Kiem, 120000, Hanoi, Vietnam.