CHARGED NANOBUBBLE DISPERSION, PRODUCTION METHOD FOR CHARGED NANOBUBBLE DISPERSION, PRODUCTION DEVICE FOR CHARGED NANOBUBBLE DISPERSION, AND METHOD FOR USING CHARGED NANOBUBBLE DISPERSION TO CONTROL GROWTH RATE OF MICROORGANISMS AND PLANTS

Abstract

The present invention provides positively or negatively charged nanobubbles, with the goal to clarify the effects of positively or negatively charged nanobubbles on microorganism and plant growth. The present invention also provides charged nanobubble dispersion liquid that contains 10.sup.5 to 10.sup.10 fine bubbles. The fine bubbles are dispersed in the liquid, are positively or negatively charged, have an average particle size of 10 nm to 500 nm, and have a zeta potential of 10 mV to 200 mV.

Claims

1. A charged nanobubble dispersion liquid comprising fine bubbles, the fine bubbles being dispersed in the liquid, being positively or negatively charged, having an average particle size of 10 nm to 500 nm, and having a zeta potential of 10 mV to 200 mV, wherein the liquid contains 10.sup.5 to 10.sup.10 fine bubbles per cc.

2. The charged nanobubble dispersion liquid according to claim 1, wherein the liquid is positively charged.

3. A method of manufacturing the charged nanobubble dispersion liquid according to claim 1, the method comprising further crushing a liquid that has been crushed in a gaseous atmosphere to a micrometer size to generate nanobubbles that are enclosed by the liquid and that are charged, and collecting the generated nanobubbles using a force including gravity, centrifugal force, or electromagnetic force.

4. The method of manufacturing the charged nanobubble dispersion liquid according to claim 3, the method further comprising applying an electric field to the gaseous atmosphere with grounding the negative side to generate negatively charged nanobubbles, and applying an electric field to the gaseous atmosphere with grounding a vibrating member to crush the liquid to generate positively charged nanobubbles.

4. A nanobubble dispersion liquid manufacturing apparatus, wherein the apparatus manufactures the nanobubble dispersion liquid according to claim 1.

6. A method of manufacturing a substance by using the method according to claim 3, wherein the substance binds or dissociates with cationic substances or anionic substances.

7. A method for manufacturing an oxidizing agent or a reducing agent using the method according to claim 3, wherein the oxidizing agent or the reducing agent depends on electrostatic properties of nanobubbles.

8. A method for promoting or suppressing growth of microorganisms and a method for promoting or suppressing growth of plants by using the charged nanobubble dispersion liquid according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a frequency distribution of positively charged nanobubbles by charge level measured using ZetaView.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a frequency distribution of negatively charged nanobubbles by charge level measured using ZetaView.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a graph that shows chlorophyll production obtained by photosynthesis of chlamydomonas cultured in a medium containing nanobubbles in which air is enclosed.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a graph that shows chlorophyll production obtained by photosynthesis of chlamydomonas cultured in a medium containing nanobubbles in which carbon dioxide gas is enclosed.

[0038] FIG. 5 is a graph that shows chlorophyll production obtained by photosynthesis of chlamydomonas cultured in a medium containing nanobubbles in which air is enclosed, and that was provided with a dark period of 12 hours per day.

[0039] FIG. 6 contains photographs that show growth-promoting effects of positively and negatively charged nanobubbles in a Komatsuna LED-photosynthesis cultivation model.

[0040] FIG. 7 is a graph that shows the effects of positively charged nanobubbles in a tomato greenhouse cultivation model.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0041] Hereinafter, embodiments and examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This description is made to explain the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the technical scope of the invention.

[0042] Preferably, positively or negatively charged nanobubbles of the present invention have an average particle size of 10 nm to 500 nm, and more preferably have an average particle size of 50 nm to 300 nm. If the average particle size of bubbles exceeds 500 nm, the buoyancy of the bubbles becomes large, which makes the bubbles to easily associate with each other, and causes the dispersion state of the bubbles to be unstable. Bubbles having an average particle size of less than 10 nm cannot be easily manufactured by the method of the present invention.

[0043] Preferably, positively or negatively charged nanobubbles of the present invention have a zeta potential of 10 mV to 200 mV, or −10 mV to −200 mV, and preferably have a zeta potential of 50 mV to 150 mV, or −50 mV to −150 mV. The nanobubbles having a zeta potential of 10 mV to −10 mV (excluding −10 mV) do not necessarily exhibit sufficient electrification effects, and it is difficult to charge nanobubbles below −200 mV or above 200 mV.

[0044] In addition, preferably the number of the charged bubbles contained in the nanobubble dispersion liquid of the present invention is 10.sup.5 to 10.sup.10 per cc, and more preferably 10.sup.5 to 10.sup.9 per cc. If the number of charged bubbles contained in nanobubble dispersion liquid is less than 10.sup.5 per cc, nanobubbles may not exhibit sufficient effects of electrification, and it is difficult to manufacture a nanobubble dispersion liquid that contains nanobubbles exceeding 10.sup.9 per cc.

[0045] In the charged nanobubbles of the present invention, positively charged nanobubbles are preferable than negatively charged nanobubbles. Although negatively charged nanobubbles have properties superior to those of non-charged nanobubbles, positively charged nanobubbles have properties generally superior to those of negatively charged nanobubbles.

[0046] (Manufacturing a Nanobubble Dispersion Liquid)

[0047] Nanobubbles used in the embodiments and examples are generated as follows. In a gaseous atmosphere, a liquid that has been crushed to a micrometer size is further crushed to generate nanobubbles that are enclosed by the liquid and that are charged. Generated nanobubbles are collected using a force including gravity, centrifugal force, or electromagnetic force to generate a charged-nanobubble dispersion liquid within the liquid.

[0048] Negatively charged nanobubbles are generated such that an electric field is applied to the gaseous atmosphere with grounding of the negative side, and positively charged nanobubbles are generated such that an electric field is applied to the gaseous atmosphere with grounding of a vibrating member that is used to crush the liquid. [0049] FIG. 1 shows a frequency distribution of positively charged nanobubbles of Example 1 by the zeta potential measured using ZetaView, and FIG. 2 shows that of negatively charged nanobubbles of Example 2 by the zeta potential measured using ZetaView.

[0050] (Effects of Charged Nanobubbles)

[0051] The present invention provides a method of manufacturing charged nanobubbles, which react with substances so that the substances bind or dissociate with cationic or anionic substances. [0052] Also, in the charged nanobubbles of the present invention, the nanobubbles have the properties to give to or accept electrons from substances, which makes it possible to manufacture, only from water and air, an oxidizing agent and a reducing agent that have necessary oxidizing or reducing power, and that are decomposed after a certain period of time.

[0053] Furthermore, the present invention can generate positively charged nanobubbles, which makes it possible to conduct comparative experiments to search the effects by electrostatic properties of nanobubbles on living things. Experimental results show that use of positively or negatively charged nanobubbles allows promoting or suppressing the growth of microorganisms and plants. Promoting or suppressing microorganism or plant growth can be made such that nanobubbles of the present invention are introduced into, for example, tap water or culture solution, so that the tap water or culture solution that contains nanobubbles is provided to microorganisms, or is absorbed through the roots or leaves of plants.

EXAMPLE 1

Manufacturing Positively Charged Nanohubbles

[0054] Nanobubbles surrounded by water and positively charged were obtained by the following process: (1) water crushed to a micrometer size was supplied into a gaseous atmosphere in a closed state; (2) the water crushed to a micrometer size was further crushed using multiple rotating bodies arranged such that adjacent rotating bodies rotate in opposite directions; and (3) generated mist was collected. Density by diameter and density by charge of obtained nanobubbles were measured using nanobubble charge measurement equipment provided by MicrotracBEL, and calculated and determined by ZetaView+T. Ohdaira charge-disk method. The average bubble particle size was measured using the ultra-high voltage electron microscope of SPring 8 located in Hyogo Prefecture.

Density by Charge of Positively Charged Nanobubbles Measured b ZetaView is Shown in FIG. 1.

EXAMPLE 2

Manufacturing Negatively Charged Nanobubbles

[0055] Nanobubbles surrounded by water and negatively charged were obtained by the following process: (1) water crushed to a micrometer size was supplied into a gaseous atmosphere in a closed state, in which an electric field was applied to the gaseous atmosphere, and the negative side was grounded; (2) the water crushed to a micrometer size was further crushed using multiple rotating bodies arranged such that adjacent rotating bodies rotate in opposite directions; and (3) generated mist was collected.

Density by Charge of Negatively Charged Nanobubbles is Shown in FIG. 2.

[0056] (Method to Control of Microorganism and Plant Growth Rate using Nanobubble Dispersion Liquid)

EXAMPLE 3

Using Nanobubbles in which Air is Enclosed

[0057] The microorganism used was wild-type chlamydomonas (NIES-2235, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, hereinafter “chlamydomonas”). Chlamydomonas was assigned to three groups; a group cultured by nutrient medium containing positively charged nanobubbles in which air is enclosed (positive group), a group cultured by a nutrient medium containing negatively charged nanobubbles in which air is enclosed (negative group), and a group cultured by a nutrient medium not containing nanobubbles (control group). Chlorophyll production of each group was measured. [0058] Cultivated strain: chlamydomonas [0059] NIES Strain No.: NIES-2235 [0060] Medium: C medium [0061] Purchase source: National Institute for Environmental Studies, NIES collection

[0062] Chlamydomonas was placed in a flat petri dish, and continuously irradiated to Chlamydomonas from the upper side at a distance of 25 cm by light having peak wavelength of 620 nm to 630 nm, which is optimal for photosynthesis. HSM agar medium was used as medium.

Preparation of Test Medium using Charged Nanobubbles [0063] Positive group: A medium was prepared using positively charged nanobubbles prepared by the method used in Example 1. Carbon dioxide was used as the gas to manufacture the positively charged nanobubbles. [0064] Negative group: A medium was prepared using negatively charged nanobubbles prepared by the method described in Example 2. Carbon dioxide was used as the gas to manufacture the negatively charged nanobubbles. [0065] Control group: A medium was prepared using distilled water containing no nanobubbles.

[0066] Chlorophyll was extracted from cultivated chlamydomonas at regular intervals using the chlorophyll extraction method with acetone. The obtained chlorophyll was measured by a spectrophotometer (NanoDrop ND-1000).

The Measurement Results are shown in FIG. 3.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 3, the positive group showed a significant growth-rate increase of chlorophyll production, compared with the control group, in the induction phase and in the logarithmic growth phase. The growth rate of the negative group was lower than that of the control group.

EXAMPLE 4

Using Nanobubbles in which Carbon Dioxide Gas is Enclosed

[0068] As in Example 3, each medium for the positive and negative groups were prepared using positively and negatively charged nanobubbles, which were manufactured in carbon dioxide gas. Chlorophyll production of each positive, negative, and control group was measured.

The Measurement Results are shown in FIG. 4.

[0069] As in Example 1, the positive group grew faster than the control group, and the negative group grew slower than the control group.

EXAMPLE 5

Using Nanobubbles in which Air is Enclosed, and a Dark Period of 12 Hours per Day is Provided

[0070] As in Example 3, each medium for the positive group and the negative group were prepared by using positively and negatively charged nanobubbles, and both of which were manufactured in carbon dioxide gas. The chlorophyll production of each of the positive group, negative group, and control group under the provision of a 12-hour dark period per day was measured.

The Measurement Results are Shown in FIG. 5.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 5, the positive group grew faster than e control group, while the negative group grew in a rate similar to the control group.

EXAMPLE 6

Komatsuna LED-Photosynthesis Cultivation Model

[0072] Water that contains positively charged nanobubbles or negatively charged nanobubbles was used for hydroponic culture of komatsuna, and the effects of each water on the growth of komatsuna were comparatively examined.

Cultivation Condition

[0073] Temperature: 20° C. when LED was off, and 27° C. when LED was on [0074] Liquid fertilizer: Hyponext [0075] Nanobubble containing water: Prepared pursuant to Examples 1 and 2 [0076] Average particle size of the bubbles: 180 nm (within the range of 100 nm to 200 nm) [0077] Bubble density: 3.0×10.sup.8 bubbles per cc [0078] Nanobubble charge measurement: MicrotracBEL [0079] Method of calculation: ZetaView+T. Ohdaira charge-disk method
Photographs of Komatsuna of the 28th Day after Sowing are Shown in FIG. 6.

EXAMPLE 7

Growth Difference in Radish Photosynthesis Model

[0080] Water that contains positively or negatively charged nanobubbles was used for hydroponic culture of radish to compare the effects of water containing charged nanobubbles.

The results are shown in Table 1.

[0081] As shown in Table 1, water of the positively charged nanobubbles exhibits the growth rate of 1.7 to 2.2 times that of the control. Water of the negatively-charged nanobubbles exhibits the growth rate of 1.1 to 1.2 times that of the control.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Growth difference in radish photosynthesis model Positively Negatively charged charged Control nanobubbles nanobubbles Fibrous root length 100 222 108 Nutritive root volume 100 171 119 Leaf area 100 165 117

Example 8

Yield Amount in Tomato Greenhouse Cultivation Model

[0082] Shown in FIG. 7 is a cumulative yield amount of tomato from Dec. 16, 2016 to Jun. 16, 2017, in which a nanobubble generator that generates positively charged nanobubbles was introduced into the greenhouse in April 2017.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 7, the yield of tomato grown in the greenhouse into which the positively-charged nanobubble generator was introduced increased significantly since April 2017. The yield of the tomato grown in the greenhouse into which the positively charged nanobubble generator was introduced increased by 11% from Apr. 16, 2017 to Jun. 16, 2017 compared with the yield of the tomato grown without a positively charged nanobubble generator.