Understanding the stability and properties of bulk nanobubbles
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: Sch of Mathematics and Physics
Abstract
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Publications
Klug J
(2018)
Using Intrinsic Surfaces To Calculate the Free-Energy Change When Nanoparticles Adsorb on Membranes.
in The journal of physical chemistry. B
Tribello GA
(2019)
Using Dimensionality Reduction to Analyze Protein Trajectories.
in Frontiers in molecular biosciences
| Description | The formation of persistent nanobubbles in water cannot be explained using standard nucleation theory, as large bubbles will keep growing, and small bubbles will dissolve. Nanobubbles require the existence of a metastable stable at a size of around 100 nm diameter. The origin of the stabilization is still under study. The idea is that there is charge accumulated at the liquid-gas interface, that is compensated in the liquid region but in a diffuse manner. This leads to a repulsion that plays against the colapse of the bubbles and dissolution. There are still untied ends, such as for example, that the charge density at the interface should decrease with size. We are analising the mechanisms that could lead to this. A method for simulating the formation and dissolution of bubbles in metadynamics was developed and tested in two-dimensional geometries. Chemical species like alcohols will tend to accumulate at the surface of the nanobubbles. We have seen that some species can provide further stabilization, so that they live longer. |
| Exploitation Route | The use of nanobubbles for medical applications is an interesting area of application, .e.g. drug or O2 delivery in healthcare. A collaboration with a group in Chile has been established. This group is very close to applications in various areas, and a small spin-off company selling O2 nanobubble-enriched water has been created and is already operational/ The new simulation methodology can be used in different contexts where the generation of a vacuum region is needed, e.g. pores in membranes. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Healthcare |
| Description | An important collaboration has been established with a research lab in Chile (Centre for Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology at Universidad Andres Bello, in Santiago). The research associated with this grant has contributed, to some extent, to the development of a variety of applications and the creation of a small spin-off company selling products with addition of nanobubbles, notably water. The number of applications is exploding, particularly in what concerns the delivery of oxygen, e.g. for medical purposes, but also in other fields like agriculture. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Modelling and applications of Nanobubbles |
| Organisation | Andrés Bello University |
| Country | Chile |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We are collaborating on the modelling of gas-filled nanobubbles in water, in particular CO2 and O2. A paper has been submitted on the effects of nanobubbles in the delivery of drugs, in this case thyroxine. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They have contributed to the experiment and modelling, and provided direct contact with companies interested in the concept. |
| Impact | No outputs or outcomes yet. |
| Start Year | 2018 |