Collection of ultrafine diesel particulate matter (DPM) in cylindrical single-stage wet electrostatic precipitators

Experimental study of a string-based counterflow wet electrostatic precipitator for collection of fine and ultrafine particles

Wet electrostatic precipitators (WESP) have been widely studied for collecting fine and ultrafine particles, such as diesel particulate matter (DPM), which have deleterious effects on human health. Here, we report an experimental and numerical simulation study on a novel string-based two-stage WESP. Our new design incorporates grounded vertically aligned polymer strings, along which thin films of water flow down. The water beads, generated by intrinsic flow instability, travel down the strings and collect charged particles in the counterflowing gas stream. We performed experiments using two different geometric configurations of WESP: rectangular and cylindrical. We examined the effects of the WESP electrode bias voltage, air stream velocity, and water flow rate on the number-based fractional collection efficiency for particles of diameters ranging from 10 nm to 2.5 μm. The collection efficiency improves with increasing bias voltages or decreasing airflow rates. At liquid-to-gas (L/G) as low as approximately 0.0066, our design delivers a collection efficiency over 70% even for fine and ultrafine particles. The rectangular and cylindrical configurations exhibit similar collection efficiencies under nominally identical experimental conditions. We also compare the water-to-air mass flow rate ratio, air flow rate per unit collector volume, and collection efficiency of our string-based design with those of previously reported WESPs. The present work demonstrates a promising design for a highly efficient, compact, and scalable two-stage WESPs with minimal water consumption.Implications: Wet Electrostatic Precipitators (WESPs) are highly effective for collecting fine particles in exhaust air streams from various sources such as diesel engines, power plants, and oil refineries. However, their large-scale adoption has been limited by high water usage and reduced collection efficiencies for ultrafine particles. We perform experimental and numerical investigation to characterize the collection efficiency and water flow rate-dependence of a new design of WESP. The string-based counterflow WESP reported in this study offers number-based collection efficiencies >70% at air flow rates per collector volume as high as 4.36 (m³/s)/m³ for particles of diameters ranging from 10 nm - 2.5 μm, while significantly reducing water usage. Our work provides a basis for the design of more compact and water-efficient WESPs.

Present cum future of SARS-CoV-2 virus and its associated control of virus-laden air pollutants leading to potential environmental threat - A global review

The world is presently infected by the biological fever of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. The present study is mainly related to the airborne transmission of novel coronavirus through airway. Similarly, our mother planet is suffering from drastic effects of air pollution. There are sufficient probabilities or evidences proven for contagious virus transmission through polluted airborne-pathway in formed aerosol molecules. The pathways and sources of spread are detailed along with the best possible green control technologies or ideas to hinder further transmission. The combined effects of such root causes and unwanted outcomes are similar in nature leading to acute cardiac arrest of our planet. To maintain environmental sustainability, the prior future of such emerging unknown biological hazardous air emissions is to be thoroughly researched. So it is high time to deal with the future of hazardous air pollution and work on its preventive measures. The lifetime of such an airborne virus continues for several hours, thus imposing severe threat even during post-lockdown phase. The world waits eagerly for the development of successful vaccination or medication but the possible outcome is quite uncertain in terms of equivalent economy distribution and biomedical availability. Thus, risk assessments are to be carried out even during the post-vaccination period with proper environmental surveillance and monitoring. The skilled techniques of disinfection, sanitization, and other viable wayouts are to be modified with time, place, and prevailing climatic conditions, handling the pandemic efficiently. A healthy atmosphere makes the earth a better place to dwell, ensuring its future lifecycle.

Evaluation of a high flow rate electrostatic precipitator (ESP) as a particulate matter (PM) collector for toxicity studies

In this study, we investigated the performance of an electrostatic precipitator (ESP) operating at high flow rates (i.e., 50-100 lpm) as a fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) collector for toxicological studies. The ESP optimum configuration (i.e., flow rate of 75 lpm and applied voltage of +12 kV) was determined based on maximum particle collection efficiencies and minimum ozone emissions associated with the instrument using different laboratory-generated aerosols. This configuration resulted in particle collection efficiencies above 80% for almost all particles in the size range of 0.015-2.5 μm while the ozone concentration was 17 ppb. The ESP was then deployed to our sampling site in central Los Angeles to evaluate its performance using ambient particles under the optimum configuration. Chemical composition and oxidative potential of PM_2.5 samples collected on the foils placed inside the ESP tube were compared with those collected concurrently on filters and aerosol slurries using the versatile aerosol concentration enrichment system (VACES) operating in parallel. Our results demonstrated that the ESP was more efficient in preserving labile inorganic ions and total organic carbon (TOC) compared to filters. PM samples collected on ESP substrates also showed higher intrinsic oxidative potential compared to the filters, which might be the result of better preservation of redox active semi-volatile organic compounds on the ESP substrates. However, the TOC concentrations and intrinsic oxidative potential of PM samples collected on ESP substrates were somewhat lower than the aerosol slurries collected by the VACES, probably due to deficiency of water-insoluble compounds in extracted PM samples from ESP substrates. In conclusion, while particle collection for toxicological purposes by the ESP is somewhat inferior to a direct aerosol-into-liquid collection, the ESP performs equally well, if not better, than conventional filter samplers and can be utilized as a simple and adequately efficient PM collector for toxicological studies.

Continuous scavenging of broadband vibrations via omnipotent tandem triboelectric nanogenerators with cascade impact structure

Ambient vibration energy is highly irregular in force and frequency. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) can convert ambient mechanical energy into useable electricity. In order to effectively convert irregular ambient vibrations into electricity, the TENG should be capable of reliably continuous operation despite variability in input forces and frequencies. In this study, we propose a tandem triboelectric nanogenerator with cascade impact structure (CIT-TENG) for continuously scavenging input vibrations with broadband frequencies. Based on resonance theory, four TENGs were explicitly designed to operate in tandem and cover a targeted frequency range of 0–40 Hz. However, due to the cascade impact structure of CIT-TENG, each TENG could produce output even under non-resonant conditions. We systematically studied the cascade impact dynamics of the CIT-TENG using finite element simulations and experiments to show how it enables continuous scavenging from 0–40 Hz even under low input accelerations of 0.2 G–0.5 G m/s². Finally, we demonstrated that the CIT-TENG could not only scavenge broadband vibrations from a single source such as a car dashboard, but it could also scavenge very low frequency vibrations from water waves and very high frequency vibrations from air compressor machines. Thus, we showed that the CIT-TENG can be used in multiple applications without any need for redesign validating its use as an omnipotent vibration energy scavenger.

Multiform Sulfur Adsorption Centers and Copper-Terminated Active Sites of Nano-CuS for Efficient Elemental Mercury Capture from Coal Combustion Flue Gas

Nanostructured copper sulfide synthesized with the assistance of surfactant with nanoscale particle size and high Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area was for the first time applied for the capture of elemental mercury (Hg⁰) from coal combustion flue gas. The optimal operation temperature of nano-CuS for Hg⁰ adsorption is 75 °C, which indicates that injection of the sorbent between the wet flue gas desulfurization and the wet electrostatic precipitator systems is feasible. This assures that the sorbent is free of the adverse influence of nitrogen oxides. Oxygen (O₂) and sulfur dioxide exerted a slight influence on Hg⁰ adsorption over the nano-CuS. Water vapor was shown to moderately suppress Hg⁰ capture efficiency via competitive adsorption. The simulated adsorption capacities of nano-CuS for Hg⁰ under pure nitrogen (N₂), N₂ + 4% O₂, and simulated flue gas reached 122.40, 112.06, and 89.43 mgHg⁰/g nano-CuS, respectively. Compared to those of traditional commercial activated carbons and metal sulfides, the simulated adsorption capacities of Hg⁰ over the nano-CuS are at least an order of magnitude higher. Moreover, with only 5 mg loaded in a fixed-bed reactor, the Hg⁰ adsorption rate reached 11.93-13.56 μg/g min over nano-CuS. This extremely speedy rate makes nano-CuS promising for a future sorbent injection technique. The anisotropic growth of nano-CuS was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis and provided a fundamental aspect for nano-CuS surface reconstruction and polysulfide formation. Further X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Hg⁰ temperature-programmed desorption tests showed that the active polysulfide, S-S dimers, and copper-terminated sites contributed primarily to the extremely high Hg⁰ adsorption capacity and rate. With these advantages, nano-CuS appears to be a highly promising alternative to traditional sorbents for Hg⁰ capture from coal combustion flue gas.

Development of a new portable air sampler based on electrostatic precipitation

Airborne particles are known to cause illness and to influence meteorological phenomena. It is therefore important to monitor their concentrations and to identify them. A challenge is to collect micro and nanoparticles, microorganisms as well as toxic molecules with a device as simple and small as possible to be used easily and everywhere. Electrostatic precipitation is an efficient method to collect all kinds of airborne particles. Furthermore, this method can be miniaturized. A portable, silent, and autonomous air sampler based on this technology is therefore being developed with the final objective to collect very efficiently airborne pathogens such as supermicron bacteria but also submicron viruses. Particles are collected on a dry surface so they may be concentrated afterwards in a small amount of liquid medium to be analyzed. It is shown that nearly 98 % of airborne particles from 10 nm to 3 μm are collected.

Inhaled environmental allergens and toxicants as determinants of the asthma phenotype

The driving environmental factors behind the development of the asthma phenotype remain incompletely studied and understood. Here, we present an overview of inhaled allergic/atopic and mainly nonallergic/nonatopic or toxicant shapers of the asthma phenotype, which are present in both the indoor and outdoor environment around us. The inhaled allergic/atopic factors include fungus, mold, animal dander, cockroach, dust mites, and pollen; these allergic triggers and shapers of the asthma phenotype are considered in the context of their ability to drive the immunologic IgE response and potentially induce interactions between the innate and adaptive immune responses, with special emphasis on the NADPH-dependent reactive oxygen-species-associated mechanism of pollen-associated allergy induction. The inhaled nonallergic/nonatopic, toxicant factors include gaseous and volatile agents, such as sulfur dioxide, ozone, acrolein, and butadiene, as well as particulate agents, such as rubber tire breakdown particles, and diesel exhaust particles. These toxicants are reviewed in terms of their relevant chemical characteristics and hazard potential, ability to induce airway dysfunction, and potential for driving the asthma phenotype. Special emphasis is placed on their interactive nature with other triggers and drivers, with regard to driving the asthma phenotype. Overall, both allergic and nonallergic environmental factors can interact to acutely exacerbate the asthma phenotype; some may also promote its development over prolonged periods of untreated exposure, or possibly indirectly through effects on the genome. Further therapeutic considerations should be given to these environmental factors when determining the best course of personalized medicine for individuals with asthma.

Removal of particulate matter in a tubular wet electrostatic precipitator using a water collection electrode

As one of the effective control devices of air pollutants, the wet electrostatic precipitator (ESP) is an effective technique to eliminate acid mist and fine particles that are re-entrained in a collection electrode. However, its collection efficiency can deteriorate, as its operation is subject to water-induced corrosion of the collection electrode. To overcome this drawback, we modified the wet ESP system with the installation of a PVC dust precipitator wherein water is supplied as a replacement of the collection electrode. With this modification, we were able to construct a compact wet ESP with a small specific collection area (SCA, 0.83 m(2)/(m(3)/min)) that can acquire a high collection efficiency of fine particles (99.7%).