“From small ponds to large lakes, Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) caused by nutrient pollution and climate change pose the largest modern threat to waterbody health. Without implementing sustainable control and remediation strategies, waterbodies can suffer from blooms of excessive algae growth, commonly blue-green algae. These HABs release dangerous toxins for people and animals and create dead zones in waterbodies, leading to fish kills, odors, and closures. From our research, we have found that ozone nanobubble technology is a novel and scalable method for the reduction of HABs and remediation of affected waterbodies. Ozone nanobubbles offer a restorative and continuous treatment alternative to chemistry and are an effective tool in a broader waterbody management plan.” Wen Zhang, professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), endorsed the use of ozone nanobubbles for HAB mitigation.
Under the funding support from the EPA P2 program, NJIT’s researchers from Zhang’s group demonstrated the technology of ozone nanobubbles to remove algae in water that could compromise water quality and human health. Algal and other nuisance microorganisms accumulate in eutrophic water. This undesirable biomass growth is shown to be removed by this novel ozone nanobubble technology as shown in the photos below.
Comparison of the algal suspension before and after exposure to ozone nanobubbles for approximately 10 min. Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/wU58cHipej8?feature=share
Devising reactive ozone nanobubbles to abate harmful algal biomass (HAB)
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Wen's Research Group
Wen Zhang, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE
Principal Investigator
Professor
Phone: (973) 596-5520
Fax: (973) 596-5790
Email: wen.zhang@njit.edu
Office Location: Colton Hall 211
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