Improving reclaim water quality
For many operators, the most compelling application for nanobubbles may be within water reclaim systems.
Reclaim systems often struggle with odor generation and sludge accumulation, the latter of which can drive costly pump-outs. These issues typically stem from low dissolved oxygen levels that encourage anaerobic bacterial activity.
Chris Bossa, technical innovation manager for Simoniz, points out that introducing nanobubbles into reclaim systems “reduces sludge, odors and discoloration; improves biological treatment; and allows higher reclaim usage — including above the windshield, in some cases.” Combined with the proper chemical balance and a well-maintained reclaim system, nanobubbles can even help achieve near-full reclaim usage, he says. In addition, they reduce scale and biofilm formation in water lines, which can cause premature injector failure and water spotting; protect RO membranes and improve spot-free rinse quality.
Nanobubbles achieve these results by increasing and maintaining dissolved oxygen throughout reclaim tanks, creating a more stable water environment that eliminates anaerobic dead zones, suppresses odor-causing bacteria and supports the aerobic bacteria that naturally break down sludge.
These effects are due to nanobubbles’ inherent properties. As Sears notes, “Nanobubbles are hydrophobic, carry a negative charge and behave like hard water particles, despite being filled with gas.” As a result, they attach to contaminants — such as fats, oils, grease and surfactants — helping bring them to the surface for easier removal.
Bertsch notes, “Reclaim performance is still heavily influenced by system design: how water settles and moves through the system, chemistry and biological control, filtration and the intended use of the reclaim water.” He cautions operators to view nanobubbles as one component within a larger water-management strategy rather than a replacement for reclaim fundamentals.
“When incorporated into a well-designed reclaim system, nanobubbles can serve as another tool to help operators get more value from their reclaim water and reduce overall freshwater demand,” he adds.
That distinction is key: Nanobubble technology is meant to supercharge, not replace, a reclaim system. In doing so, operators can expand reclaim water usage throughout the wash process — pre-soak, equipment wet-down and high-pressure rinsing — without introducing odors or sacrificing wash quality.
“The cumulative effect is reclaim water that is consistently cleaner with less odor than what conventional systems produce,” Sears states.
Cleaner, drier, shinier
Beyond reclaim systems, nanobubbles are drawing attention for their impact on washing and drying performance. There are two primary ways nanobubbles may improve wash performance: reduced surface tension and hardness-ion inactivation.
Lower surface tension allows water and chemical solutions to spread more effectively across vehicle surfaces, improving contact with soils and contaminants.
“Nanobubbles improve chemical dispersion, surface contact, foam quality and rinse ability, which allows water to carry soaps, pre-soaks, waxes, sealants and drying aids more effectively,” Bossa says.
Hard water conditions present another opportunity. Dissolved calcium and magnesium can interfere with surfactant performance, often forcing operators to compensate through higher chemical usage. According to Sears, nanobubbles can interact with those positively charged hardness ions, helping preserve chemistry effectiveness.
“Because nanobubbles carry a negative surface charge, they interact with and effectively inactivate (not remove) these positively charged hardness ions, preserving the full cleaning power of chemistry,” he says.
The effects of nanobubbles extend beyond cleaning and into the drying phase of the wash.
“The theory is that by reducing surface tension, water may sheet from the vehicle more effectively during the rinse process,” Bertsch says. “When less water remains on the surface, the blowers have less water to remove, which may contribute to a drier vehicle and a more consistent finish.”
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