Wet scrubber is a term used to describe a variety of devices that use liquid to remove
pollutants. In a wet scrubber, the dirty gas stream is brought into contact with the scrubbing liquid by spraying it with the liquid, by forcing it through a pool of liquid, or by some other contact method.
Of course the design of any air pollution control device (wet scrubbers are no exception)
depends on the industrial process conditions and the nature of the air pollutants involved.
Exhaust gas characteristics and dust properties, if particles are present, are of primary
importance. Scrubbers can be designed to collectparticulates and/or gaseous pollutants. Wet
scrubbers remove particles by capturingthem in liquid droplets. Wet scrubbers remove
pollutant gases by dissolvingor absorbingthem into the liquid. Any droplets that are in the
flue gas must then be separated from the cleanexhaust stream by means of another device
referred to as a mist eliminat or orentrainment separator (these terms are interchangeable).
Also, the resultant scrubbing liquid must be treated prior to any ultimate discharge or reused
in the plant.