Ozone Micro-Nano Bubble Aeration Technology: Origin And Development​

Ozone Micro-Nano Bubble Aeration Technology: Origin and Development

The concept of micro-nano bubbles can be traced back to 1981, when Johnson et al. proposed the hypothesis of the existence of bulk nanobubbles; in 1994, Parker et al. further put forward the interfacial nanobubble theory while studying the interaction of hydrophobic surfaces. However, it was not until the early 2000s, when Lou et al. and Ishida et al. first directly observed nanobubbles using atomic force microscopy (AFM), that experimental foundations for this technology were laid.

In the 2000s, the physical properties of micro-nano bubbles (such as high stability and high mass transfer efficiency) were gradually revealed, and their applications expanded from industrial cleaning and aquaculture to water treatment. Japanese scholars began exploring the potential of micro-nano bubbles in wastewater treatment in the early 2000s.

The combination of ozone and micro-nano bubbles emerged in the 2010s. Studies have shown that micro-nano bubbles can significantly enhance the solubility and oxidation efficiency of ozone, particularly through catalytic oxidation technology to decompose refractory organic compounds (e.g., nitrobenzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons).

Early research was dominated by Europe, the U.S., and Japan. Keio University in Japan has systematically carried out research on the generation mechanism and applications of micro-nano bubbles since the 2000s, covering fields such as water treatment and biomedical science. Scholars in Europe and the U.S. focused on the stability and interfacial chemical properties of nanobubbles.

China accelerated its follow-up after 2010, initially focusing on technology introduction. Chinese enterprises developed micro-nano bubble aerators based on foreign technologies, which were applied to the remediation of black and odorous rivers. Domestic universities, including Tongji University and Harbin Institute of Technology, gradually conducted related research, with a focus on exploring the application of ozone micro-nano bubbles in drinking water treatment and industrial wastewater.

Japan indeed leads in this field. Japanese scholars have deeply analyzed the stability mechanisms of nanobubbles (e.g., surface charge regulation, bubble coalescence inhibition), with relevant achievements published in top journals such as Langmuir and Water Research.

Engineering applications are mature: Japanese company Ebara has developed multiple generations of micro-nano bubble generators, applied to groundwater remediation, aquaculture oxygenation, and other scenarios, with high technical maturity.

Strong policy support: The Japanese government has included micro-nano bubble technology in its "Green Technology Innovation Plan," promoting its large-scale application in environmental remediation.

Global Applications and Subsequent Research Progress

Water Treatment Field

• Japan: Using ozone micro-nano bubbles in the pre/post-ozone stages of water treatment plants to improve organic matter removal rates (e.g., UV254 removal rate increased by 31%).

• China: Developing ozone micro-nano bubble devices coupled with ceramic membranes to address COD and color issues in industrial wastewater.

• Europe and the U.S.: Focusing on in-situ groundwater remediation, using micro-nano bubbles to extend oxygen mass transfer time and inhibit anaerobic bacterial activity.

Agriculture and Environmental Remediation

• Japan: Promoting micro-nano bubble water for soil disinfection and greenhouse disease control to reduce pesticide use.

• China: Studying its role in saline-alkali land improvement by enhancing root activity through oxygenation.