Water-to-Air Transfer of Nano/Microsized Particulates: Enrichment Effect in Bubble Bursting Jet Drops

Bingqiang Ji, Amrit Singh, Jie Feng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Bubbles dispersed in liquids are widely present in many natural and industrial processes and play a key role in mediating mass transfer during their lifetime from formation to rising to bursting. In particular, nano/microsized particulates and organisms present in the bulk water can be highly enriched in the jet drops ejected during bubble bursting, impacting global climate and public health. However, the detailed mechanism of this enrichment remains obscure with the enrichment factor being difficult to predict. Here, we experimentally investigate the enrichment of nano/microsized particles in bubble bursting jet drops and highlight the underlying hydrodynamic mechanism, combining the effects of bubble scavenge and bursting on the transport of particles. Scaling laws for the enrichment factor are subsequently proposed that describe both our and prior experimental results reasonably well. Our study may provide new insights for water-to-air transfer of bulk particulates such as microbes related to bubble bursting.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5626-5634
Number of pages9
JournalNano letters
Volume22
Issue number13
Early online dateJun 4 2022
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 13 2022

Keywords

  • Nano/microsized particle
  • bubble bursting
  • disease transmission
  • enrichment
  • jet drop

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanical Engineering

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