Nanobubble Technology in Water Treatment Systems
Summary
Nanobubble technology harnesses stable gas‐filled cavities, typically under 200 nm in diameter, to enhance a wide range of water treatment processes. These nanometre‐scale bubbles exhibit unusually high internal pressure, a large surface‐to‐volume ratio and a persistent negative surface charge, which together confer long lifetimes in aqueous media and exceptional mass‐transfer properties. Generation methods include hydrodynamic or acoustic cavitation, gas‐permeable membranes and specialised electrolysis arrangements, each capable of producing uniform suspensions of bulk nanobubbles. In water treatment applications, nanobubbles improve dissolved oxygen delivery for biological oxidation, accelerate advanced oxidation processes via in situ generation of reactive oxygen species, bolster coagulation and flocculation through particle adsorption at their interfaces and facilitate flotation‐based pollutant removal. Their low buoyancy extends the residence time of gases and oxidants, enabling more efficient contact with contaminants and reducing energy consumption compared with conventional sparging. Pilot studies and emerging full‐scale systems have demonstrated effective removal of organic micropollutants, enhanced disinfection against bacterial and viral pathogens, accelerated breakdown of persistent chemicals and improved nutrient removal in wastewater streams. As a versatile, scalable and chemically compact platform, nanobubble technology is poised to contribute significantly to sustainable water management across municipal, industrial and agricultural contexts.
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Nanobubble Technology in Water Treatment Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanobubble technology in water treatment systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Nanobubble: A gas‐filled cavity in a liquid with a diameter below 200 nm, characterised by high internal pressure, extended stability and a charged interface.
Ozonation: A water treatment process that employs ozone gas as a strong oxidant to degrade organic and inorganic contaminants.
Zeta potential: The electric potential at the interface of a particle or bubble in suspension, indicating the magnitude of electrostatic repulsion and colloidal stability.
Cavitation: The rapid formation and violent collapse of vapour or gas bubbles in a liquid induced by pressure fluctuations, used to generate nanobubbles.
References
- Innovative nanobubble technology: Fuelling the future of bioenergy and carbon mitigation. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (2025).
- Micro and nanobubbles enhanced ozonation technology: A synergistic approach for pesticides removal. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety (2025).
- Treatment of Organics Contaminated Wastewater by Ozone Micro-Nano-Bubbles. Water (2018).
- On the Existence and Stability of Bulk Nanobubbles. Langmuir (2018).
- Interpreting the interfacial and colloidal stability of bulk nanobubbles. Soft Matter (2018).
- Transmission electron microscopic observations of nanobubbles and their capture of impurities in wastewater. Discover Nano (2011).
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