Nanobubble Technology for Wastewater Treatment
Our Value Proposition
Nanobubbles (NB) represent a groundbreaking innovation for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment in Chile. This technology delivers tangible benefits:
- Energy savings: 20-50% reduction in aeration costs
- Capacity boost: up to 25% more capacity without expansion works
- Sludge reduction: 10-30% less volume produced
- Better effluent quality: easier compliance with regulations
- ROI: 2-4 years with hybrid configuration
Aeration typically consumes 50-70% of a treatment plant’s energy. Nanobubbles vastly improve this efficiency through superior oxygen transfer and unique physical properties that optimise biological processes.
What Are Nanobubbles?
Nanobubbles are ultra-fine bubbles with a diameter smaller than 1 micron—about 500 times smaller than ordinary bubbles.
Key Properties
- Prolonged Lifespan
- Do not float up quickly like normal bubbles
- Remain suspended for hours or days
- Move via Brownian motion instead of rising
- Massive Specific Surface Area
- Up to 400 times more contact area per volume
- Enables highly efficient gas-liquid transfer
- Exceptional Stability
- Negative surface charge prevents merging
- May persist for months in suspension
- Improve solid-liquid separation by adhering to particles
- High Transfer Efficiency
- 85-90% oxygen transfer (vs 15-25% conventional)
- Alpha factor ≈ 1 (no degradation in wastewater)
- Virtually complete gas dissolution
The Problem: Conventional Aeration
Current Limitations
- High Energy Consumption
- 0.5–1.0 kWh/m³ in small plants (≤10 L/s)
- 0.3–0.6 kWh/m³ in large plants (≥100 L/s)
- Example: a 50 L/s plant uses ~730 MWh/year for aeration
- Limited Efficiency
- 2–3% OTE per metre of water depth
- 15–25% total transfer in a typical 4–5m tank
- Most air escapes without dissolving
- Operational Issues
- Alpha factor of 0.4–0.6: surfactants halve efficiency
- Diffuser fouling: biofilms reduce output 5–10% annually
- High maintenance: frequent cleaning, membrane replacement
- Limited flexibility: hard to increase capacity without major works
The Solution: Nanobubbles
Benefits by Process Stage
Stage
NB Improvement
Impact
Collection/Pre-treatment
Early influent oxidation
90–100% H₂S odour removal, less corrosion
Primary Treatment
Enhanced solids/fats flotation
+5–10% TSS removal, better BOD capture
Secondary Aeration
OTE 85–90%, uniform DO
20–50% energy savings, 30–40% lower BOD output
Clarification
Improved settleability
Less TSS in effluent, biofilm inhibition
Disinfection
Cleaner effluent + ROS
10–20% less chlorine, better UV efficiency
Sludge Handling
Accelerated aerobic digestion
10–30% less volume, up to +85% dry solids
Documented Success Stories
- PTAR Fallbrook, California
- +60% more oxygen transferred to water
- 45% energy savings in aeration
- Implementation at influent
- Industrial Lagoon
- BOD reduced from 13,400 to 2,500 mg/L
- OTE >85% confirmed
- Complete odour elimination
- City of Lodi, California
- Faster recovery from ammonia shocks
- More resilient biological system
- Meister Cheese, Wisconsin
- +15% production capacity without expansion
- US$10M saved in avoided expansion
- Treatment of higher organic loads
Competitive Advantages
- Technical
- Superior transfer efficiency (85–90% vs. 15–25%)
- Similar alpha factor ≈1 (no loss in wastewater)
- Even distribution of oxygen
- No diffuser fouling
- Less maintenance
- Economic
- Energy savings: typical 30–50%
- Less chemicals: 10–20% chlorine reduction
- Less sludge: 10–30% lower volumes
- Fast ROI: 2–4 years hybrid mode
- Avoided capex: expansions postponed or eliminated
- Environmental
- Lower carbon footprint (less kWh)
- Total odour elimination
- No extra chemicals required
- More usable biogas produced
- Better quality effluents
- Operational
- Flexible installation (modular)
- Integration without major shutdowns
- Greater resilience to variable loads
- System redundancy
- Automated operation
Practical Implementation
Integration Recommendations
- Best practice: t Inject NB “as far upstream as possible”
- In intake chamber or pump well
- Before primary treatment
- In biological recirculation line
- Installation options:
- Inline pre-treatment system
- Recirculation in aeration tank
- Floating modules for lagoons
- Mobile units for pilots
Typical Sizing
- Generator capacities:
- Small: 10–50 GPM (2–11 m³/h)
- Medium: 100–500 GPM (23–115 m³/h)
- Large: 1,000–5,000 GPM (230–1,150 m³/h)
- Example for 50 L/s (180 m³/h):
- 1–2 medium generators in parallel
- Total power: 15–30 kW
- Area required: 10–20 m²
Why Choose Nanosud?
- Proven Technology
- Backed by UCLA studies (2017)
- Success stories in the US, Europe, and Asia
- Over 3,000 global installations
- Comprehensive Support
- Feasibility studies
- Demonstration pilots
- Turn-key installation
- Operator training
- After-sales service
- Commitment to Sustainability
- Verifiable carbon footprint reduction
- Contribution to ISO 14001, ESG certifications
- Circular economy: less waste, more energy recovery
The Nanosud
Effect
Request a tailored assessment for your sector.
Applications Nanosud
We apply nanobubble technology wherever water is critical. Select your industry and discover real benefits.
