Effects of nanobubbles on microbial culture and fermentation
Changes in growth and output when nanobubble water is applied to culture and fermentation processes.
Key results
+10%
Higher microalgal biomass
CO₂ supplied as nanobubbles, 14-day culture. Vs. conventional bubbles; reported value 10.11% (Li et al., 2026)
+12–24%
Higher methane production
Anaerobic digestion of corn straw, nanobubble water of 5 gases. Reported values 11.86–24.08% (Bian et al., 2026)
+15–37%
Higher methane production
Anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge, nanobubble water of 3 gases. Reported values 14.5–37.1% (Lyu et al., 2024)
Our own tests in microbial culture and fermentation are in progress. Published research is presented first.
- Own cases
- Validation in progress
- Research cases
- 4
Results reported in published research
These are results from published research, not performance measured with Honour Tech products. We selected representative studies from peer-reviewed papers and public research reports and do not include corporate promotional material. Studies in which the effect was unclear are included as well. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Positive studies 3
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+10%
Microalgal biomass
CO₂ supply, 14-day culture, vs. conventional bubbles
About 10% more microalgal biomass with CO₂ nanobubbles
CO₂ supply, 14-day culture, vs. conventional bubbles
Paper details and results
Comparative study of CO₂ nanobubbles and macrobubbles: Effects on water chemistry, microalgal growth, and carbon utilization
Carbon dioxide nanobubbles versus conventional bubbles: effects on water chemistry, microalgal growth and carbon utilization
- Citation
- Li et al. · 2026 · Water Research 288, 124714
- Summary
- Microalgae (Scenedesmus obliquus) were cultured for 14 days, comparing carbon dioxide supplied as nanobubbles with carbon dioxide supplied as ordinary-sized bubbles.
- Key findings
- Biomass was 10.11% higher than with ordinary bubbles, and nanobubble carbon utilization efficiency was 27.86%. The reported mass transfer coefficients were 12.41–18.91 h⁻¹ for nanobubbles and 10.18 h⁻¹ for ordinary bubbles, but variability was large and the ranges overlap.
- Gas used
- Carbon dioxide
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+11.86–24.08%
Methane production
Anaerobic digestion of corn straw, nanobubble water of 5 gases
Corn straw methane production up 11.86–24.08% with nanobubble water
Anaerobic digestion of corn straw, nanobubble water of 5 gases
Paper details and results
Optimizing straw anaerobic digestion via nanobubble technology: Insights into hydrolysis, acidogenesis, and methanogenesis processes
Optimizing straw anaerobic digestion via nanobubble technology: hydrolysis, acidogenesis and methanogenesis
- Citation
- Bian et al. · 2026 · Renewable Energy 256, 124351
- Summary
- Nanobubble water of each of 5 gases was added to anaerobic digestion of corn straw and compared with digestion without it.
- Key findings
- Cumulative methane yield reached up to 189.36 mL/g VS. Total solids removal improved by 9.70–26.28% and volatile solids removal by 11.87–24.09%, and the share of methanogens increased.
- Gas used
- Air, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide
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+14.5–37.1%
Methane production
Anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge, varies by gas
Methane production up 14.5–37.1% in anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge
Anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge, varies by gas
Paper details and results
Exploring nanobubble technology for enhanced anaerobic digestion of thermal-hydrolysis pre-treated sewage sludge
Nanobubble technology for enhanced anaerobic digestion of thermal-hydrolysis pretreated sewage sludge
- Citation
- Lyu et al. · 2024 · Bioresource Technology Reports 27, 101939
- Summary
- Nanobubble water was added to anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge pretreated by thermal hydrolysis and compared with digestion without it. A separate oxygen-supersaturated reactor was used to separate the effect of dissolved oxygen from that of nanobubbles.
- Key findings
- Methane production increased by 37.1% with carbon dioxide, 25.6% with air and 14.5% with hydrogen. The authors concluded that most of the increase came from the nanobubbles rather than the initial dissolved oxygen.
- Gas used
- Air, hydrogen, carbon dioxide
Neutral studies 1
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No difference
Final Lactobacillus biomass
Early growth increased, but the stationary phase matched the control.
No difference in final lactic acid bacteria biomass with nanobubble water
Early growth increased, but the stationary phase matched the control.
Paper details and results
Effects of nanobubble water on the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus 1028 and its lactic acid production
Effect of nanobubble water on the growth and lactic acid production of Lactobacillus acidophilus 1028
- Citation
- Guo et al. · 2019 · RSC Advances 9(53), 30760–30767
- Summary
- Lactic acid bacteria were cultured in media made with nanobubble water of four gases, comparing growth and lactic acid production.
- Key findings
- At 90% nanobubble water, growth at 6 hours of culture rose by 51.1% with nitrogen and 34.2% with hydrogen. From about 15–21 hours onward, in the stationary phase, there was no significant difference from the control. Because medium dissolved oxygen and pH varied with the gas, the effect of the bubbles alone is difficult to isolate.
- Gas used
- Air, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide
Frequently Asked Questions
Which processes have been studied?
We include studies on microalgae culture, anaerobic digestion and Lactobacillus culture.
Because the targets differ, the results of one study cannot be applied directly to other culture processes. Results vary with strain, medium, gas and operating conditions.
Which gases were used?
The studies used air, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
Dissolved oxygen and pH of nanobubble water vary with the gas. Only some studies separated the effect of the bubbles from that of the dissolved gas.
When will Honour Tech's test data be available?
Our own tests are in progress.
We will publish the results on this page once they are compiled. Tell us the culture target and current aeration method, and we will start by working out a test method with you.
How were the studies selected?
We selected representative studies from peer-reviewed published papers.
We include 3 positive studies and 1 study with limited effect. These are not performance measurements of Honour Tech products; increases were about 10–37%, and in one study the difference appeared only early in the culture.
Tell us your culture, vessel capacity, current aeration method and gas used, and we will start by reviewing a test method with you.
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