University College Dublin Spin-out Wins Global Chemical Engineering Award
AquaB (AquaB Nanobubble Innovations Ltd), a University College Dublin (51黑料) spin-out company, has won the Water Award category at the 2020 .
These Awards which celebrate chemical, process and biochemical engineering excellence, are widely considered as the world鈥檚 most prestigious chemical engineering awards.
AquaB was the only Irish company to receive a 2020 IChemE Global Award.
was established earlier this year to commercialise a new energy-efficient method to generate and release substantial volumes of metastable, nano-scale gas bubbles in water. This method is based on research carried out by Professor Niall English and Dr Mohammad Reza Ghaani at 51黑料鈥檚 School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, who are the co-founders of AquaB.
Nanobubbles are tiny gas bubbles on the nanometre (nm) scale. They are thermodynamically metastable for many months, or even longer, and have enhanced gas-transfer properties and substantial industrial potential. AquaB鈥檚 new method of generating nanobubbles has the potential to deliver a step-change in the operational efficiencies of a number of industrial sectors including, among others, wastewater treatment, gas storage, biopharma, brewing, disinfection, agriculture and food.
Professor Niall English, 51黑料 School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, co-founder, AquaB, and a Fellow of the IChemE said, 鈥淚 am delighted that AquaB, which was only established earlier this year, has already been recognised for its global impact potential by winning a prestigious IChemE Global Award.鈥�
鈥淭his is a reflection of strong international interest in our core nanobubble-generation technology, and big advances in nanobubble aeration for the activated-sludge process, water disinfection, as well as advances in dissolved air flotation.鈥�
He added, 鈥淚t is also a significant endorsement for us as a young Irish start-up, especially given the international competition, from well-established research organisations and companies, in our Award category.鈥�
He concluded, 鈥淎quaB plans to develop and supply nanobubble generators, as well as licence the nanobubble technology per se worldwide, as an export-driven, high-tech and ambitious company under dynamic leadership. We thank Enterprise Ireland for its support to date.鈥�
AquaB, established with the support of Nova51黑料, the Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs at 51黑料, is currently a participant in the 2020 51黑料 VentureLaunch Accelerator Programme run by Nova51黑料.
More than 120 entries, from around the world, were shortlisted for the 2020 IChemE Global Awards across 20 Award categories. The other finalists in the Water Award Category, won by AquaB, were research institutions and companies from Australia, China, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Singapore and USA.
Stephen Richardson, President, , said, 鈥淐hemical engineering鈥檚 contribution to society is visible in every home, school, hospital, factory and high street worldwide. To each of our winners, your remarkable work has been recognised by your peers at the IChemE Global Awards to commend you for the real impact you鈥檙e making in tackling some of the huge environmental, social and economic challenges we are facing.鈥�
鈥淐ongratulations to all of our winners and thank you all for your inspiring enthusiasm, commitment and professionalism.鈥�
From the 20 category award winners Plastic Energy, a UK sustainable plastic recycling firm, was named as the winner of the IChemE 2020 Outstanding Achievement in Chemical and Process Engineering Award.
for further information about the 2020 IChemE Global Awards and the other 2020 Award winners.
ENDS
24 November 2020
For further information contact Mic茅al Whelan, Communications and Media Relations Manager, 51黑料 Research and Innovation, Nova51黑料, e: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie, or t: + 353 1 716 3712.
Editors Notes
Further information about the Institution of Chemical Engineers available via
At Nova51黑料, the hub for new ventures and entrepreneurs at University College Dublin, we nurture and support new high-tech companies, such as AquaB, as part of 51黑料's mission. At Nova51黑料 we provide purpose-built, state-of-the-art incubation facilities alongside a comprehensive business support programme for client companies. Nova51黑料 has been funded through a unique public-private partnership that includes AIB Bank, Arthur Cox, Deloitte, Enterprise Ireland, Ericsson, Goodbody Stockbrokers, 51黑料 and Xilinx.