Gas scrubbers remove pollutants from gas before it is released into the environment. Wet scrubbers use liquid to trap particulate matter and react with compounds, while dry scrubbers use a compound to trap molecules. Scrubbers must be designed for specific applications and can be fitted with filters and air quality monitoring systems. Increasing restrictions on pollution have led to innovation in pollution control and improved gas scrubber design.
A gas scrubber is equipment designed to purify a plume of gas before it is released into the environment. Pollutants are removed from the plume, allowing harmless compounds to vent while hazardous compounds are trapped for sequestration and disposal. Scrubbers are required by law in environments where people work with potentially polluting gases and different designs are available for various applications.
One type of gas scrubber is a wet scrubber, in which a liquid, often water, is introduced into the vent stack. The liquid is commonly sprayed or aerosolized. It traps the particulate matter in the gas and reacts with the compounds in the gas, carrying them to the bottom of the chimney. The liquid pools for storage, at which point they can be run through a wastewater treatment plant and reused or otherwise treated to control pollutants. It is common to see a visible plume when using a wet scrubber, as some moisture is created.
A compound in the form of gas or powder is introduced into a dry gas scrubber. The compound attaches itself to certain molecules in the escaping gases, trapping them so they can’t be released into the air. It is designed to sink or be carried through controlled vents, purifying the gases as they rise up the stack. The plume in this case may not be visible when it emerges from the chimney, as the particulate matter would need to be removed and moisture levels remain stable.
Washing plants usually have to be designed for specific applications, keeping in mind the type of pollutants involved and the production volume. The scrubber must be designed to handle peak loads without problems, as shutting down the chimney could be extremely costly and, in some cases, dangerous. Scrubbers can also be fitted with filters and other devices, along with air quality monitoring systems to confirm that they are functioning properly by removing hazards from the air and releasing only clean air into the environment.
Increasing restrictions on allowed pollution in many regions of the world have forced companies to be innovative in pollution control. The design of gas scrubbers is constantly being improved as people work on new ways to extract impurities from the air. Regulations are often designed to drive improvement through incentives or setting deadlines for companies to meet new air quality standards with gas cleaning equipment and other anti-pollution measures.
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