On Nanobubbles, Water, Food and More
Last week, Reuters reported that Mexican scientists developed a unique "nanobubble" system to improve water quality in Mexico City's Xochimilco ecological zone, a UNESCO World Heritage site with canals dating back to the Aztec empire.
Refugio Rodriguez Vazquez, a researcher from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav) said the bubbles should help oxygenate the water, eliminate pollutants, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The system may be used in other Mexico City waterways to improve water quality and availability.
Separately, Moleaer, a leading nanobubble technology company, closed a $9M Series B funding round (June 2021).
Moleaer CEO Nicholas Dyner said “This financing round - the largest of its kind for a nanobubble technology company - demonstrates the importance of innovative technologies that improve the sustainability of food production and water treatment. With issues of food insecurity and the growing deterioration of global water quality, industries are looking for chemical-free solutions to meet the challenges associated with climate change and resource scarcity."
Larsen Mettler, S2G Ventures Managing Director (the lead investor) said “Moleaer’s nanobubble technology has incredible potential to make agriculture and aquaculture more sustainable and productive, to restore the health of aquatic systems and to provide meaningful worldwide advancements in water quality”
Notes: 1) Nanobubbles are less than nanometers in size, 2500 times smaller than a grain of salt. 2) They can be formed with any gas and injected into any liquid.
Chart: On Bubbles - Fine, Micro and Nano
Source: Moleaer
OUR TAKE
The understanding of nanobubble technology is at an early stage. Momentum for its use will increase as researchers validate its effectiveness and Moleaer and other commercial entities increase their market outreach.
The need for better environmental management solutions will drive demand for innovative technologies such as nanobubbles.
Nanobubble technology has promise in areas beyond water/waste treatment - including material transport, drug delivery, biosensing/imaging, chemical detection, and crop yield enhancement.