Washing Air: Wet Scrubber Pollutant Recovery Method
Students observe a simple wet scrubber modelCopyright Wikimedia Commons http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Wet_scrubber.jpg
Students observe and discuss a simple model of a wet scrubber to understand how this pollutant recovery method functions in cleaning industrial air pollution.
One of the biggest challenges environmental engineers face is devising new techniques to prevent industrial air pollution. Engineers are creative in designing modern pollutant recovery methods and industrial technologies that clean up and prevent air pollution. Scrubbers are designed for use at power plants and facilities that emit sulfur dioxides and hydrogen sulfide gases. Engineers also design cleaning products that scrub stains from your tub and shower, and non-toxic technologies that clean your oven.
Figure 1. How a wet scrubber cleans polluted air.Copyright Natalie Mach, Graduate Fellow, Integrated Teaching and Learning Program, College of Engineering, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2004.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe and explain how a wet scrubber works as a pollutant recovery method.
- Give examples indicating when the use of a wet scrubber is appropriate.
- Describe how engineers create technology to help industry clean up their air pollution.
- Use their knowledge of percentages to understand technological efficiency.