Innovation & Technology

Nanobubbles:
Tiny Tech That Could Solve the Global Water Crisis

Kran Nanobubble’s nearly invisible solution revolutionizes industrial water efficiency — enabling businesses across multiple sectors to produce more with less water.

By Scarlett Buckley | Published 5 days ago | About a 6 minute read

Image: peshkovagalina

Water is the world’s most valuable resource. It sustains life, drives agriculture and powers industry. Yet decades of industrial pollution, overuse and outdated systems have depleted freshwater supplies faster than nature can replenish them.

Agriculture is the biggest culprit, consuming around 70 percent of the world’s freshwater, often inefficiently. Leaky irrigation systems, nutrient runoff and poor water management waste billions of liters each year. Meanwhile, food producers are being pushed to feed a growing population with fewer resources — all while navigating the impacts of climate change. According to CDP, water risk in global supply chains could cost companies up to $77 billion.

The world urgently needs smarter, cleaner ways to use water — and Chile-based water technology company Kran Nanobubble believes the answer lies in something undetectable to the human eye: Nanobubbles.

Measuring one-billionth of a meter in size, nanometric gas bubbles hold extraordinary potential for improving water efficiency across multiple sectors; when filled with gases such as oxygen, CO₂ or ozone, they can be injected into water to enhance its natural properties.

Unlike regular bubbles that rise and burst quickly, nanobubbles stay suspended in water for much longer. This allows them to release gas more slowly and evenly — which leads to better oxygen distribution, improved water quality and more efficient support for biological and chemical processes including plant growth, fish health or cleaning operations.

Kran’s nanobubble technology enables businesses to produce more with less water; the system can be integrated directly into existing equipment and processes — making it an easy, plug-in solution for agriculture, aquaculture, food production and industrial water treatment.

“Our solutions are designed to address critical challenges in industrial processes involving liquids — such as excessive water consumption, intensive energy use, high chemical usage and low efficiency in industrial operations,” Martin Castro, Kran’s Commercial Director, explained to Sustainable Brands® (SB). “Kran Nanobubble Systems are used at different stages of the production process. They are integrated into existing equipment, improving process efficiency and adding value to the final product.”

An eruptive approach

Kran was founded in 2017 in Puerto Varas, Chile, by Jaime De la Cruz González — an aquaculture veteran with over 35 years’ experience in the industry. Having seen the environmental toll of industrial growth firsthand, he set out to find a solution that could support both economic progress and environmental care.

A trip to Japan introduced him to nanobubble technology; inspired by its potential, he committed to exploring and advancing the technology, and Kran was born.

Kran builds its nanobubble generators in-house, using high-quality stainless steel to ensure long-term durability — even in harsh environments such as open-sea aquaculture. The system’s easy, drop-in nature eliminates the need for expensive infrastructure overhauls.

“Our equipment can be added without major modifications, making adoption straightforward,” Castro said. “That said, designing an effective solution still requires precise engineering — from selecting the right gas to determining the optimal dosage — to ensure the best possible results.”

Each system is carefully calibrated to deliver the right type and amount of gas for a specific application. That precision is what enables nanobubbles to raise oxygen levels, reduce the need for chemicals and boost overall performance — whether that’s growing stronger crops, improving fish health, or cleaning food products more safely.

Outsized benefits

Conventional methods for improving water quality often rely on high energy use, intensive chemical treatments or costly filtration systems. Kran offers a cleaner, more efficient alternative that reduces waste while enhancing performance. In agriculture, its systems have achieved water savings of over 50 percent in green areas by improving irrigation efficiency and nutrient uptake. In wastewater treatment, clients have reported a 25.6 percent increase in organic solids removal and a 14.3 percent reduction in chemical oxygen demand.

“Our technology enhances water efficiency in different processes, improving operational performance while reducing resource consumption,” Castro said. “By increasing oxygen levels and improving water quality, nanobubbles create healthier conditions for crop and fish growth — decreasing the need for chemical additives and boosting productivity.”

As he explained, the effervescent technology is particularly effective in industries where water is used intensively, and where gases such as oxygen play a key role. In aquaculture, Kran’s nanobubbles increase dissolved oxygen more efficiently than traditional aeration systems — improving fish health and feed conversion and reducing disease risk. In agriculture, it boosts nutrient absorption and soil aeration — supporting stronger crops with less irrigation and fewer inputs. And in the food industry, nanobubbles enhance cleaning while reducing chemical use — all without compromising microbiological safety.

Collaboration

Kran’s technology is being adopted across key global markets including Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and its home base of Chile. The company has already partnered with agricultural producers, aquaculture operations and food manufacturers looking to optimize resource use along with production.

One of Kran’s partners, Coca-Cola LATAM, has deployed nanobubble systems in wastewater treatment plants across Chile, Brazil and Mexico.

“Kran Nanobubbles’ technologies are helping Coca-Cola LATAM bottlers to improve the performance of their wastewater treatment plants,” Alfeu Follador Jr. — Coca-Cola’s Director of New Supply Chain Technologies, LATAM OU — told SB. “Besides the excellent results on plant performance, Kran’s technology is also enabling a reduction in electricity consumption ranging from 25 percent to 40 percent in the aerobic stage of the process.”

Follador credits Kran’s technical depth and collaborative mindset for the success of the partnership, which began through the 100+ Accelerator program — a startup-scaling initiative backed by AB InBev, Coca-Cola and other major FMCG players.

Building trust

As an emerging technology, nanobubbles are still met with some skepticism. Not all companies claiming to produce nanobubbles can scientifically validate their results, a problem that risks undermining trust in the entire sector and “discrediting the whole technology,” Castro said.

“We focus on proper engineering, validation and long-term results. Some of our equipment has been running in harsh sea conditions for over four years and remains fully operational.”

By prioritizing transparency and rigorous testing, Kran is helping to build credibility in the nanobubble space — proving that these nearly invisible bubbles can deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes in real-world settings.

In 2024, Kran won the first Siemens Water Innovation Challenge from Congreso Acades — an association that brings together over 80 companies committed to developing non-conventional sources and technologies to secure water for Chile — and was recently named a Top Innovator by the World Economic Forum’s UpLink initiative.

“These awards show how the combination of our tailored development model and nanobubble technology can drive real change — reducing energy use, conserving water, cutting chemical inputs and boosting productivity,” Castro said, proudly. “At its core, our mission is about learning to produce more with less and making that possible at scale.”

In 2025, Kran is working to grow its manufacturing capacity and establish a US presence — the next steps on its mission to revolutionize global industrial water use.