NIALL ENGLISH
PART B1
NIMBLE
ERC ADVANCED GRANT 2019 RESEARCH PROPOSAL [PART B1]
EXPLOITING, ENGINEERING AND MANIPULATING THE MYSTERIES OF THE NANO-PHASE IN LIQUIDS Cover Page: -
NIALL ENGLISH SCHOOL OF CHEMICAL AND BIOPROCESS ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN PROPOSAL DURATION: 60 MONTHS
ABSTRACT:
Nano-bubbles exhibit several unique physical and mechanical characteristics, such as dramatically reduced buoyancy, extremely high surface area/volume ratio, large zeta potentials, enhanced solubility of gas in water, generation of free radicals, slow-rising velocity and stability over weeks or longer. These properties render them good candidates for several commercial applications, such as fine-particle flotation, wastewater treatment, and in food and agricultural industries. A most important challenge lies in establishing facile and easily-controlled methods to promote nano-bubble formation, and, indeed, liquid-phase nano-droplets, i.e., in realising reproducibly and consistently a nano-phase. NIMBLE revolutionises formation of the nanophase, providing substantial enhancement in effective gas/liquid solubility in water and aqueous media. Further, energy demands are very low vis-à-vis other nanobubble-generating technologies. Feasibility studies have confirmed additive-free nanobubble formation, and their stability over many months. Moreover, theory and molecular simulation validates and reinforces experimental proof of concept. A ‘Grand Challenge’ lies in understanding underlying mechanistic phenomena involved in nanophase formation, and the metastability of pure nanobubbles. Indeed, developing experimental and theoretical insights into controlled, on-demand release for nanobubbles is also vital for efficient processengineering applications. In this ERC ‘NIMBLE’ project, state-of-the-art computer-simulation methods in molecular and larger- (continuum-) scale will be employed in tandem with advanced experimental set-ups and techniques to investigate and manipulate mechanisms of nano--phase formation in the presence of electric fields (Work-Package 1), as well as its controlled, on-demand release (Work-Package 4), with applications to carbon capture and agriculture using nanobubbles’ “carrier” personality (Work-Package 4). NIMBLE’s four key goals are: Work-Package 1: Optimisation/elucidation of field-enhanced formation of nano-bubbles and droplets Work-Package 2: Establishing fundamentals of NBs’ mobility, stability and kinetics Work-Package 3: Understanding and exploiting the "carrier personality” of nanobubbles' surface corona Work-Package 4: Elucidation of fundamentals of acoustic nano-phase release methods
BEER
N2 CO2
MILK
H2 Air
O2
WATER
CH2 O3
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