Nanobubbles are emerging as a game-changing technology with vast potential across multiple industries.
Nanobubbles are extremely small gas bubbles with unique chemical and physical properties. These characteristics make them highly effective for applications in water treatment, chemical processing, medicine, agriculture, and a wide range of industrial uses.
As nanobubble research accelerates, Refractron’s high-purity alumina tubes are in demand among universities and innovative start-ups eager to explore new applications.
With exceptional chemical resistance, strength, and high-temperature stability, our alumina ceramics set the standard for performance. Our advanced porous ceramics are already integral in waste and drinking water treatment by delivering durable, long-lasting aeration and ozone injection capabilities.
WAF0.1: What’s It All About?
Traditional nanobubble generation techniques are energy intensive and produce poor bubble uniformity. The use of metallic components and expensive equipment severely limit the applications available to these methods. Refractron R&D has engineered an alumina tube with a mean pore size of just 0.1 micron (100 nm).
Branded as WAF0.1, this material generates ultra-fine bubbles in the micro and nanobubble range. Composed of 91% pure white alumina, it resists nearly all chemicals, making it ideal for demanding applications using corrosive chemicals or reactive gases.
Highlighted in several journal articles, WAF0.1 has generated significant interest from the research community. While we currently produce this tube in a single size, our expert team has extensive experience designing and manufacturing custom porous ceramic components, from simple discs to complex, fully machined shapes.
Reigning in Refractron’s Design & Build Capabilities
Refractron’s expertise in porous ceramic manufacturing encompasses a wide array of forming technologies, catering to diverse requirements. From tubes and discs to plates and rods, Refractron’s products boast mean pore sizes ranging from 0.1 micron to 100+ microns. The in-house machine shop further enhances flexibility, allowing for the fabrication of custom shapes with precision.
With offerings such as 85-91% glass-bonded alumina (Al2O3), sintered 99% alumina for elevated temperature stability, and reaction-bonded silicon carbide (SiC) prized for its high-temperature creep resistance, Refractron stands at the forefront of porous materials innovation.
Comprehensive Research & Optimal Quality in Every Part We Produce
Refractron ceramic tubes streamline nanobubble production with an easily scalable, affordable, chemically stable, and easy-to-implement solution. This opens the door to applications that traditional, mechanically intensive methods cannot achieve. We’re eager to collaborate with forward-thinking companies and research institutions to drive the next breakthrough in nanobubble technology.
Let’s innovate together! Contact us to discuss your project application today.
Additional Reading:
“Optimization of Iron Removal in Water by Nanobubbles using Response Surface Methodology” – Cuizhen Sun, Guoxiu Wang, Caijuan Sun, Rupeng Liu, Zhibin Zhang, Taha Marhaba and Wen Zhang. Originally Published in ‘Water Supply’ by IWA Publishing. LINK.
“Generation of Nanobubbles by Ceramic Membrane Filters…” – Ahmed Khaled Abdella Ahmed, Cuizhen Sun, Likun Hua, Zhibin Zhang, Yanhao, Zhang, Wen Zhang. Taha Marhaba. Originally Published in Elsevier, Ltd. LINK.
Contributing Author: Tyler Roberts
Tyler Roberts is a Chemical Engineer at Refractron Technologies. Contact Tyler at (315) 879-0811 or troberts@refractron.com for a free assessment to see if we can help you with parts that will extend maintenance cycles, improve product quality and process reliability and reduce your operational costs.