From Inception to Breakthrough: AquaB’s Nanobubble Technology
Hanan Itzkovitch, an Israeli-based consultant, supported the initial business development efforts of AquaB during 2022-24. As AquaB refined its commercial focus toward oil-and-gas, fuel operations, and water treatment between 2022-23, Mohammad Reza Ghaani, Hanan Itzkovitch, Alan Kennedy, and Paul Kilroy-Glynn departed to pursue other opportunities. Today, under the leadership of Niall J. English and supported by Sorcha Mallon, Donagh Tuite, and Elaine Shaw, AquaB redefines the potential of nanobubble technologies and drives forward sustainability and efficiency.
At the heart of AquaB’s revolution is its electrostriction-based mechanism, a brainchild of Niall J. English. This advanced system departs from ordinary mechanical generators that rely on pumps, impellers, or compressors, notorious for high energy consumption. Unlike them, AquaB harnesses electrostriction, a phenomenon where an electric field induces deformation in a liquid, creating nanobubbles with minimal energy.
The nanobubbles generated by AquaB’s system, developed under English’s guidance, exhibit remarkable properties that set them apart from those produced by other methods. These bubbles are denser, longer-lasting, and more stable, providing reliability across various applications. The system’s ability to create greater mass in nanobubble form at a much lower energy cost proves its efficiency and makes it a boon for industries.
AquaB has set sustainability as a core value championed by Niall J. English, exemplified by its system’s low-maintenance design. Unlike mechanical generators with moving parts prone to wear and tear, AquaB’s system operates without any mechanical components. This design eliminates frequent maintenance needs, reduces downtime, and ensures reliable operation even in demanding industries. AquaB’s technology requires minimal maintenance and thus is much more beneficial for remote or resource-constrained areas where consistent operation at lower costs is crucial.
In addition to being low-maintenance, AquaB’s system incorporates a passive mode of operation, allowing it to be powered by renewable energy sources such as solar power. This capability enhances its applicability in regions with limited access to energy grids.
The superior oxidative potential of AquaB’s nanobubbles, a hallmark of English’s innovation, is crucial for advanced oxidation processes. This property accelerates the breakdown of persistent organic pollutants, such as PFAS, within water treatment systems. The enhanced oxidative potential of AquaB’s nanobubbles improves disinfection and contributes to cleaner water.
The impact of AquaB’s innovations, driven by Niall J. English’s expertise and vision, has been recognized through numerous prestigious awards and accolades. These include:
- 2024 Election to The Royal Irish Academy, honoring Professor Niall J. English for his outstanding contributions to science, innovation, and leadership in advancing nanobubble technology.
- 2024 Silver Award at the EIT-Digital Innovation-Team Awards for BioSimulytics for Professor English’s pioneering role in digital innovation and technological breakthroughs.
- 2023 Advanced Grant by the European Research Council, awarded to Professor Niall J. English for his groundbreaking advancements in nanobubble science and its transformative industrial applications.
- 2022 NovaUCD Spin-out of the Year Award, celebrating Professor English’s entrepreneurial vision and AquaB’s emergence as a leader in nanobubble technology innovation.
- 2020 Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Global Award (Water Category), highlighting Professor English’s contributions to revolutionizing water engineering and treatment technologies.
- 2019 UCD VentureLaunch Accelerator Programme Award for Professor English’s exceptional potential to drive industry disruption and growth through innovative approaches.
These awards demonstrate AquaB’s unwavering dedication to enhancing the potential of nanobubble generation and fostering industrial sustainability. The commitment is reinforced by the exemplary leadership of Niall J. English.
AquaB’s achievements, shaped by English’s groundbreaking work, are finding applications across diverse sectors, from water treatment and agriculture to energy and manufacturing. AquaB’s technology in the water treatment industry enhances aeration efficiency, promotes contaminant removal, and improves the purification processes.
AquaB’s nanobubbles improve irrigation efficiency by delivering oxygen-rich water directly to plant roots in the agricultural sector, enhancing growth and yield. This application is especially valuable in regions facing water scarcity, where maximizing resource utilization is essential.
In the energy sector, AquaB’s nanobubbles, developed through English’s unique method, enhance fuel combustion efficiency, reduce fuel consumption, and lower emissions in internal combustion engines, providing environmental benefits while making the entire process much more economical. The technology facilitates the separation of water and hydrocarbons in oil and gas applications.
Under Professor Niall J. English, AquaB Nanobubble Innovations Ltd. is shaping to be a beacon of sustainability and is reducing the harm of environment-damaging industries. AquaB delivers a nanobubble generation system that surpasses all other technologies in every aspect across the board with its electrostriction-based mechanism, lowering energy consumption and increasing NB production levels. With passive solar-powered operation and enhanced oxidative potential, AquaB offers a solution for industries that seek better efficiency and sustainability. Niall J. English’s technology has only just begun; it is only a matter of time before electrostriction is the industry norm.
