Bubble-based cleaning technology for removing pesticide residues on surfaces
An environmentally benign, water-saving cleaning technology that uses the shear force of sliding bubbles to detach pesticide residues from walls and flat surfaces. Building on proven biofilm and produce-cleaning research, this approach offers a sustainable alternative to chemical or high-pressure washing for agricultural and food safety applications.
Overview
This solution leverages the mechanical shear force generated by bubbles sliding along a surface to remove pesticide residues, biofilm, and other adherent contaminants. The underlying principle is straightforward: when the shear force produced by a flowing bubble stream exceeds the adhesion force holding a residue to a surface, the contaminant is detached and carried away by the fluid. The technology has already been validated for removing bacteria from flat surfaces and for cleaning fruits and vegetables, and is now being extended to pesticide residue removal on walls and similar structures. Because it relies on physical fluid mechanics rather than chemical detergents, it offers a sustainable, environmentally benign cleaning option for agricultural facilities, greenhouses, food processing environments, and storage structures.
Technical specifications
- Mechanism: Bubbles sliding along a wall generate localized shear stress that peels off adhered contaminants, including biofilms and chemical residues.
- Controlling parameters: Bubble size, bubble density, and fluid flow rate are tuned to maximize shear force relative to the adhesion strength of the target residue.
- Surface compatibility: Effective on flat surfaces such as glass slides, with performance dependent on the physical and chemical properties of both the wall material and the adhered substance.
- Validation approach: Controlled experiments compare cleaning outcomes with and without bubbles, using optical visualization or pH measurement to quantify pesticide removal depending on residue chemistry.
- Prior demonstrated capability: Removal of bacterial biofilms and pesticide residues from flat surfaces, as well as cleaning of agricultural produce.
Technology readiness level
The bubble-cleaning concept has been validated in laboratory settings for biofilm removal on flat surfaces and for cleaning fruits and vegetables. Current work is focused on extending the method to pesticide residues on walls, with planned experiments to identify optimal bubble size and density for different residue chemistries. The technology is at an early-to-mid stage of applied development, with demonstrated proof-of-concept results and ongoing parameter optimization prior to broader deployment.
About Cornell University
Cornell University is a comprehensive private, land-grant research university with campuses in Ithaca and New York City, combining significant scale with cross-disciplinary breadth. Industry connects through open-access user facilities and prototyping labs, pilot-scale testbeds, and a research and technology park that provide pathways from discovery to demonstration. A statewide extension network and integration with a major hospital system enable real-world deployment, while a graduate campus embedded in New York City’s tech corridor provides direct access to startups, venture investors, and corporate R&D teams. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, the Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A dedicated technology transfer office streamlines IP management, licensing, startup formation, and corporate partnerships across campuses.
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