Increasingly important in the face of climate change and ongoing water shortage issues, surfactant removal made more efficient with the use of nanobubbles
October 11, 2022 (Carson, CA.) — Moleaer, the global leader in nanobubble technology, today announced it is working with Goleta Sanitary District, a wastewater treatment plant in Goleta, CA, to assist with the removal of surfactants from the water system. Surfactants ― present in laundry and dishwasher detergents, personal care products, and disinfectants ― are not easily removed within wastewater processes and pose significant challenges for treatment plants due to their inhibitory effects on wastewater treatment.
Moleaer’s patented 2700 GPM nanobubble generator was installed during the pre-treatment process, at post-screening and grit removal areas. By helping to remove surfactants, the deployment of nanobubble technology resulted in the following:
- Improved separation between liquids and solids,
- Reduced odor,
- Enhanced oxygen transfer rate with a 43% reduction in energy consumption,
- A 44% total decrease in Chlorine demand
- An estimated cost savings of approximately $127,000 per year.
Moleaer’s mission is to make the scarce resource of water do more with less. This is especially important when it comes to wastewater treatment in California, where ongoing water shortage issues due to drought conditions compound operation challenges. Water treatment facilities like Goleta are tasked to properly treat wastewater that is more concentrated because residents are using less water and, at the same time, have increased their use of products containing surfactants, like hand soap, to manage through the pandemic.
Nanobubbles, 70-120 nanometers in diameter and 2500 times smaller than a grain of salt, have unique chemical and physical properties. Nanobubbles lack the buoyancy to float to the surface and pop, like larger bubbles, and they stay suspended in liquid solutions moving in random motion. Nanobubbles provide distinct benefits that remove surfactants from wastewater, including:
- Oxidation: When nanobubbles collapse, they produce a Reactive Oxidative Species (ROS). This strong oxidative effect weakens the molecular bonds in the surfactant.
- Effect of Charge: Nanobubbles have a strong negative charge. Surfactant molecules, which are polar, interact with nanobubbles and dispersed ions driven by the respective electrical charges.
- Turbulence/Mixing: Nanobubbles inactivate surfactants through charge neutralization and alkyl chain collapse, forming floc and removing surfactants.
Moleaer will be sharing the complete results of their work at Goleta Sanitary District during WEFTEC on October 10-12 at booth #2805. WEFTEC is the largest conference of its kind in North America and offers water quality professionals from around the world with the best water quality education and training available today. While at WEFTEC, Moleaer will also be exhibiting their Titan Nanobubble Generator at their booth and holding a happy hour event for current and potential customers and partners.
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About Moleaer
Moleaer™ is the global leader in nanobubble technology with a mission to do more using less water. By deploying the power of nanobubbles, the company enhances and improves the performance and productivity of many of the world’s most critical industrial processes. Its proprietary nanobubble technology unlocks the power of water to help farmers grow more food, empowers businesses to manage water more effectively and efficiently, and restores aquatic ecosystems sustainably without chemicals.
Moleaer has deployed more than 1,500 nanobubble generator installations in more than 30 countries. The generators inject nanobubbles ― 2,500 times smaller than a grain of salt ― that supersaturate the water with oxygen or other gases, form mild oxidants for disinfection, and increase water’s ability to permeate soil and rock. Moleaer’s patented nanobubble technology provides the highest oxygen transfer rate in the industry at >85% and is a cost-effective, chemical-free solution proven to increase sustainable food production through better plant health and heat tolerance, reduce the use of chemicals across water-based industrial processes including the food value chain, restore aquatic ecosystems, and improve natural resource recovery.
To learn more, visit: www.Moleaer.com
