A wet scrubber is an industrial air pollution control system that removes gases, odours, chemical fumes and airborne particles from contaminated air. Wet scrubbers are used across waste processing, wastewater treatment, chemical manufacturing, food production and other industrial environments where emissions need to be treated before they are discharged.
Unlike dry filtration systems, wet scrubbers bring the contaminated air into direct contact with a liquid. Depending on the pollutant being treated, the scrubbing liquid can absorb, neutralise or capture contaminants before the cleaned air leaves the system.
Exeon’s scrubX™ wet scrubber system is a compact, containerised solution designed for industrial odour and air emission treatment. Its packaged construction brings key components together within a pre-engineered system, reducing the amount of assembly required once the equipment reaches site.
How Does a Wet Scrubber Remove Pollutants?
In a packed wet scrubber, contaminated air enters the treatment tower and passes through specially designed packing media.
At the same time, a scrubbing liquid is circulated across the packing. The media provides a large surface area where the gas stream and liquid can come into contact. Pollutants can then transfer from the air into the liquid, where they are absorbed or chemically reacted depending on the treatment process.
The cleaned air subsequently passes through a mist eliminator, which captures entrained liquid droplets before the treated air leaves the scrubber.
The scrubX™ system continuously recirculates its scrubbing solution, while automated dosing and controls help maintain the chemical conditions required for reliable pollutant removal.
What Pollutants Can Wet Scrubbers Treat?
Wet scrubbers can be used against a wide range of industrial contaminants, including:
- Ammonia (NH₃)
- Hydrogen sulphide (H₂S)
- Sulphur dioxide (SO₂)
- Hydrogen chloride (HCl)
- Acidic gases
- Chemical fumes
- Certain volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Odorous gases
- Dust and fine particulate matter
The most appropriate treatment depends on the chemical properties and concentration of the pollutant. Different contaminants may require different scrubbing solutions, which is why the incoming air stream should be assessed before a system is specified.
Wet scrubbing forms part of Exeon’s wider range of industrial odour and emission control systems, alongside activated carbon adsorption and biological filtration.
Where Are Wet Scrubbers Used?
Wet scrubbers are commonly used at sewage and wastewater treatment works, waste and recycling facilities, composting sites, anaerobic digestion plants, food production facilities and chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturing sites.
They can be particularly useful where contaminants are readily soluble or can be chemically neutralised within a liquid treatment process.
For air streams better suited to alternative technologies, Exeon also offers hi-flo™ activated carbon systems and airo-flo™ biological odour control. Different technologies can also be combined where a multi-stage treatment process is required.
Exeon’s wider industrial air filtration technologies allow the treatment method to be selected around airflow, contaminant type, concentration and site conditions rather than relying on a single approach.
The scrubX™ range uses packed-tower technology and is available in modular configurations for different airflow requirements. Units can also be operated in parallel where larger air volumes need to be treated.
For sites dealing with corrosive gases, strong process odours or chemically reactive emissions, a properly designed wet scrubber can therefore provide an effective and scalable method of treating contaminated industrial air before discharge.
Contact Exeon today to arrange a site consultation or request a tailored proposal. Our technical team will assess your airflow volumes and contaminant profile to design a system that delivers consistent emission control.