The contribution of industrial and municipal operations to air pollution is huge. The emissions are in the form of fumes, pungent odours, smoke, etc. They are released by industries which are either involved in chemical production or use chemicals in other industrial processes.
Irrespective of the source, the air emissions are needed to be safely captured and treated before being released. Also, bad odours such as those of hydrogen sulphide should be removed before letting out the gas steam.
Choosing the right air emission treatment can be a challenge. The wet chemical scrubbers, dry absorbent scrubbers, biological scrubbers, and destructive type scrubbers such as catalytic and thermal oxidizers are certain types of off-gases air emission scrubbers.
Each type comes with a unique set of performance, operating challenges and costs.
Here’s a checklist of factors to consider before purchasing an air emission scrubber:
- source of the emissions
- type of contaminants and level of exposure risk
- the estimated flow rate
- the temperature of the gases
- by-product residual comparison
- type of facility and level of operators available
- hours of operation
These variables should be taken into consideration while selecting the odour control or air emission scrubber. This will help to avoid expensive mistakes in future.
Types of scrubbers:
Based on the performance efficiency, the most common types of odour control and fume gas emission scrubbers are chemical and biological scrubbers. An analysis of odour gases should be done to know the total roading rate and chemical nature of the odour.
- Biological Scrubber: It is a type of wet odour control scrubber that treats and removes contaminants from an air stream. It is employed when the concentrations of gases remain steady and do not fluctuate. It uses microbes that feed on contaminants like hydrogen sulphide to survive.
- Chemical Scrubber: When the concentration levels of the contaminants fluctuate frequently, a chemical scrubber is employed. These scrubbers function by introducing an acid gas sorbent material into the gas stream and a particulate matter control device.
Another type of air scrubber is the portable air scrubber. It is used during renovations or large-scale indoor projects where contaminants will be exhausted into the atmosphere and a permanent air scrubbing system is not required. They have a series of HEPA filters and photocatalytic purifiers that work like UV light to turn pollutants into inert substances.
The other key factors integral to the selection process are the anticipated annual operating cost of the scrubber, and the type of maintenance the scrubber requires. For instance, the biological scrubber requires less maintenance than the chemical one.
Still, confused about the ideal scrubber for your industry? The experienced professionals at PDFL can help you evaluate your fume, gas, or odour problem and guide you through the selection process. We will provide you with the most cost-effective and long-lasting solution.
