A New Washing Method Using Microbubbles

Abstract

The effect of microbubble washing was examined for removing oil from the “nori” net. The quantity of oil in the “nori” net after the washing experiments had considerably decreased. 83% or more of oil in the “nori” net was reduced at 25°C. To clarify the washing mechanism of microbubbles, surface tension measurement has been carried out on aqueous solution exposed to microbubbles. The surface tension of aqueous solution decreases with the treated time of microbubbles. These phenomena are attributed to behavior of microbubbles in solution. It was found that shrinking phenomenon of microbubbles greatly decreases the hydrogen bonding causing decreased surface tension. Microbubbles contributed to weakening the hydrogen bonding. When the detergent molecules were introduced into water, the replacement of the water molecules by the detergent molecules results in a decrease in the surface tension of water. However, the detergent solution exposed to microbubbles greatly increases the hydrogen bonding causing increased surface tension. It was also examined that degradation of 4-ethylphenol had occurred.