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Nanokyo® – The Science of Nanobubbles™
The Science of Nanobubbles™

At first glance,
all bubbles appear
the same.
They are not.

The size of a bubble fundamentally changes how it behaves in water, how long it remains suspended, how it interacts with surfaces — and ultimately how it performs in real-world applications.

Conventional
Bubble
~1,000+ µm
Micro­bubble
1–100 µm
Nanobubble
(Nanokyo®)
<200 nm
A human hair is approximately 250–500× wider than a 200 nm nanobubble.
Hover each bubble to explore the difference.
Ultrafine Nanobubbles <200 nm Invisible to the Naked Eye Suspended in Water for Extended Periods Enormous Gas–Liquid Surface Area ISO 20480-1 Defined Ultrafine Bubbles Japanese Engineering Super Functional Nano Water™ Ultrafine Nanobubbles <200 nm Invisible to the Naked Eye Suspended in Water for Extended Periods Enormous Gas–Liquid Surface Area ISO 20480-1 Defined Ultrafine Bubbles Japanese Engineering Super Functional Nano Water™
Why Understanding Bubbles Matters

Understanding these differences is essential when evaluating any water enhancement technology. The market is filled with products that use terms like "nano", "micro" and "fine bubble" — often interchangeably and sometimes incorrectly.

At Nanokyo®, we believe informed customers make better decisions. That is why we have created this independent educational resource — so you can understand the science behind the claims before making any decision.

Explore the Three Types →
"The size of a bubble fundamentally changes how it behaves in water, how long it remains suspended, how it interacts with surfaces and ultimately how it performs."
This page is designed as an independent educational resource. Whether or not you are considering Nanokyo products, we encourage you to use this information to evaluate any bubble-based water technology more effectively.
Three Types of Bubbles

Understanding the fundamental differences.

Each type of bubble behaves differently in water — and those differences have profound implications for real-world applications.

~1,000+ µm
diameter
Conventional Bubbles
Conventional bubbles are the large bubbles we see every day — produced when air is blown into water through an aerator, diffuser or nozzle. Because they are relatively large, they rise rapidly to the surface, burst within seconds and release their gas into the atmosphere. Their useful contact time with water is therefore very limited. Although conventional bubbles are suitable for many aeration applications, they do not exhibit the unique physical behaviour associated with ultrafine nanobubbles.
Typical Size
1,000+ µm
Visible to Eye
Yes — clearly visible
Behaviour
Rise rapidly & burst
Stability
Low · seconds
1–100 µm
diameter
Microbubbles
Microbubbles are much smaller than ordinary bubbles and are typically measured in micrometres (µm). Because microbubbles are significantly smaller than conventional bubbles, they rise more slowly and remain in water longer. They provide improved contact between water and gas and are widely used in applications such as wastewater treatment, flotation processes and certain cleaning systems. However, microbubbles are still buoyant — over time they continue to rise to the surface, collapse and disappear.
Typical Size
1–100 µm
Visible to Eye
Often visible
Behaviour
Rise slowly to surface
Stability
Moderate
<200 nm
diameter
Nanokyo® Technology
Nanobubbles (Ultrafine Bubbles)
Nanobubbles — also known as Ultrafine Bubbles (UFBs) — are gas bubbles typically smaller than 200 nanometres in diameter. At this extremely small scale, bubbles begin to behave differently from larger bubbles. Rather than rapidly floating to the surface, ultrafine nanobubbles can remain dispersed in water for extended periods because of their very small size and unique physical characteristics. They are invisible to the naked eye and create an enormous total gas–liquid interface when present in large numbers — making them the subject of growing scientific and industrial interest worldwide.
Typical Size
<200 nm
Visible to Eye
Invisible
Behaviour
Remain suspended — extended periods
Stability
Significantly higher
One Football
Billions of Beads
The same volume of water, broken into billions of nanobubbles, creates a dramatically larger total surface area — enabling unprecedented interaction between gas and water at a molecular level.
Why Bubble Size Matters

Surface area is everything.

∞×
Greater gas–liquid surface area vs conventional bubbles

Imagine holding a single football. Now imagine breaking that same volume into billions of tiny beads. The total surface area increases dramatically.

Nanobubbles work in exactly the same way. Because billions of ultrafine bubbles provide an exceptionally large combined surface area, they interact with water differently from larger bubbles — at a scale that simply cannot be replicated by conventional or microbubble technologies.

This unique characteristic is one of the primary reasons why ultrafine nanobubbles are being investigated for a wide range of commercial and industrial applications around the world.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Microbubbles vs Nanobubbles

A factual, independent comparison of the two most commonly discussed advanced bubble technologies.

Feature
Microbubbles
Nanobubbles (Ultrafine)
Typical Size
Approximately 1–100 µm
Typically <200 nm
Visible to the Eye
👁️ Often visible
Invisible
Behaviour in Water
Gradually rise to the surface over time
Can remain suspended for extended periods
Stability
Moderate
Significantly higher
Surface Area per Unit Volume
High
Extremely high
Gas–Liquid Interface
Good
Exceptional
Scientific Interest
Established in wastewater & flotation
Rapidly expanding — food, agri, aquaculture, healthcare
Typical Applications
Aeration, flotation, wastewater treatment
Advanced cleaning, agriculture, aquaculture, food processing, industrial & healthcare research
Navigating the Market

Not all "nano" is the same.

Today, many products are marketed using terms that are not always used consistently or accurately. Customers deserve clarity — so they can make informed decisions based on science, not marketing terminology.

The following terms are commonly seen in the market. They are not always equivalent, and their use does not guarantee that a product generates true ultrafine nanobubbles below 200 nm.

Nano Bubble
Nano Bubble Shower
Micro Bubble
Fine Bubble
Oxygen Bubble
Bubble Water

Because the technologies behind these terms are different, customers should understand what type of bubbles a system is actually designed to generate — rather than relying solely on marketing language.

Questions Every Customer Should Ask
  • 01
    What is the typical bubble size produced?Does the system generate true ultrafine nanobubbles (<200 nm), microbubbles, or both?
  • 02
    Has the technology been independently tested?Are test reports available from recognised, independent laboratories?
  • 03
    What concentration can the system produce?Under what specified operating conditions and at what flow rates?
  • 04
    What industries has the technology been validated for?What real-world applications has it been tested and proven in?
  • 05
    What technical support and after-sales service are provided?A reputable supplier should answer these questions clearly and provide supporting documentation.
The Nanokyo Difference

Committed to transparency, scientific integrity and responsible innovation.

At Nanokyo, our focus is not simply on producing bubbles — it is on engineering Super Functional Nano Water™ using advanced Japanese Ultrafine Nanobubble Technology.

Every Nanokyo solution is developed with the objective of delivering reliable, consistent and high-quality water performance across residential, commercial and industrial applications.

Because when it comes to water technology, understanding the science behind the bubbles is just as important as the bubbles themselves.
🔬
Scientific Transparency
We provide clear, factual information about the type of bubbles our technology generates, how they are measured and what performance can realistically be expected.
🎯
Genuine Ultrafine Nanobubble Technology
Nanokyo systems are engineered specifically to generate true ultrafine nanobubbles — not microbubbles — using precision Japanese technology.
🏗️
Japanese Precision Engineering
Developed and engineered in Japan to the highest standards of quality, reliability and consistency — the hallmarks of Japanese industrial excellence.
🤝
Responsible Innovation
We do not make unsubstantiated claims. Our commitment is to honest communication, long-term performance and customer education — not marketing hype.
🌍
Growing Scientific Recognition
Ultrafine nanobubble technology is being investigated across water treatment, food processing, agriculture, aquaculture and healthcare research worldwide.
Experience the Science

Ready to experience Super Functional Nano Water™?

Now that you understand the science, explore how Nanokyo's Japanese Ultrafine Nanobubble Technology can transform your home or business through Nano-Water as a Service™.