Technology
Filtoflex’s advanced robust technology is designed to generate cost-effective and sustainable Nanobubble gas to inject air, oxygen, or ozone into any liquid.
The Filtoflex technology greatly improves the gas-liquid phase process to efficiently generate Nanobubbles at a low cost.
Our Nanobubble technology can be used in hydroponic and soilless production systems to increase the quantity and quality of production.
Filtoflex’s solution is stable, safe, and sustainable. It includes pre-treatment, treatment and post-treatment solutions. It can be used to treat water and wastewater.
Filtoflex’s solution requires minimal maintenance & operating costs. There is no need for CIP (Clean-in-Place).
The systems
Why Nanobubbles?
Nanobubbles are extremely small gas bubbles, less than 200 nanometers in diameter, with many unique physical properties that make them very different from macro or micro bubbles. These unique characteristics make Nanobubbles the ultimate choice for the aeration of liquid media.
Due to the extremely small size, Nanobubbles are not buoyant enough to reach the surface and instead follow Brownian motion allowing Nanobubbles to be extremely stable and remain in solution – evenly distributed across the entire volume of liquid – for months, unlike macro or micro bubbles.
All bubbles possess a surface charge, however the surface charge of a bubble increases as the bubble diameter decreases. This gives Nanobubbles a very high surface and charge and a high zeta potential, the electro kinetic potential in colloidal dispersions. The strong negative charge of Nanobubbles improves separation efficiency in flotation by increasing collision probability with the particulate matter.
The internal pressure of Nanobubbles in liquids is much higher than that of their environment, which accelerates the dissolution of the gas into the liquid. Therefore, the liquid will maintain saturation status for the target gas. This is not the case for macro or micro bubbles.
These unique characteristics of a negative charge, high surface area (relative to volume), and stability in solution make Nanobubbles the best and most efficient gas transfer option.
Gas Bubble Diameter
How does Nanobubble Technology improve wastewater pretreatment?
Pretreating wastewater through aeration is a crucial step in the treatment process, due to oxygenation which creates the conditions for more effective subsequent treatment at wastewater plants.
According to the Toxicology and Environmental Health Sciences review published in 2021 by the Korean Society of Environmental Risk Assessment and Health Science, exploring the ‘Effect and application of micro- and nanobubbles in water purification’,
the properties of nanobubbles which include high mass transfer power, high zeta interface potential, and the capacity to produce highly reactive free radicals are significant to alternative treatment methods since they allow the nanobubbles to be evenly distributed in treated water. This coupled with their diminutive size allow Nanobubbles to remain stable over extended periods of time and enable them to excel in aeration treatment with almost 100% gas transfer, oxidating organic compounds and water disinfection without the use of any chemicals.
Thus, Nanobubble Systems require far less energy consumption to achieve more effective treatment in comparison with existing aerobic reactors at wastewater treatment plants.
What happens during aeration?
Oxygen is introduced in the wastewater, which is vital for the survival and growth of beneficial microorganisms in the subsequent treatment stages. Nanobubbles boost the behavior of aerobic microorganisms in the bioreactor which enhances the treatment process. These microorganisms play a central role in breaking down organic matter and pollutants which are then more effectively removed. Certain pollutants, like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are more effectively removed when they are in a dissolved state. Aeration encourages the dissolution of these pollutants, making them more amenable to treatment.
Thus, adequate oxygen levels are necessary to support the metabolic processes of beneficial microorganisms. The exceptionally high oxygen levels that we achieve with our Nanobubble Systems provide superior conditions for beneficial microorganisms, facilitating enhanced treatment results with low operation costs for the
wastewater treatment plant.
Aeration helps in the removal of excess nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfides, from wastewater. These nutrients can lead to water quality issues if not properly controlled. Aeration promotes the conversion of ammonia (a form of nitrogen) into nitrates and then
into harmless nitrogen gas, a process known as
nitrification and denitrification.
Aeration provides odor control
Aeration helps reduce unpleasant odors associated with untreated or partially treated wastewater through oxygenation. The oxygen enrichment promotes the growth of aerobic bacteria, which significantly reduces the production of foul-smelling compounds. The superior aeration performance of our Nanobubble technology provides exceptional odor control results.
Reducing pathogens in wastewater
Aeration can reduce the presence of pathogenic microorganisms in wastewater, enhancing the overall effectiveness of subsequent wastewater treatments and improving public health protection.
Nanobubble aeration pretreatment provides a superior and critical step that optimizes the conditions for subsequent treatment processes. Our Nanobubble Treatment ensures that the wastewater contains adequate oxygen, promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms, and addresses specific challenges like odor control, nutrient removal, and pollutant reduction.
By incorporating Nanobubble Technology to the aeration process, wastewater treatment facilities can achieve more efficient and effective treatment outcomes, leading to cleaner and safer water discharge.