New technologies for Smelting
Sulfur dioxide produced in smelting facilities is now being captured prior to emission by electrostatic precipitators and are being returned to the process. (Clancy et al p. 184)
Electrostatic smoke precipitators, also known as scrubbers these machines catch pollutants coming from factories before they are released into the environment. (Clancy et al p. 184)
How to they work?
Sulfur dioxide produced in smelting facilities is now being captured prior to emission by electrostatic precipitators and are being returned to the process. (Clancy et al p. 184)
Electrostatic smoke precipitators, also known as scrubbers these machines catch pollutants coming from factories before they are released into the environment. (Clancy et al p. 184)
How to they work?
- Electrostatic precipitators force the air coming from the smokestack otherwise called "flue" gas passed two electrodes ("Electrostatic Smoke Precipitators." )
- One electrode gives the particles (carbon particles in the soot) in the gas a negative charge ("Electrostatic Smoke Precipitators." )
- As the particles go further up the pipe a second electrode consisting of plates with positive ("Electrostatic Smoke Precipitators." )
- Charges attracts the negatively charged particles and collects them. ("Electrostatic Smoke Precipitators." )
- The soot is then stuck to the plates and therefore not put into the atmosphere ("Electrostatic Smoke Precipitators." )
- Soot is composed of tiny particles of carbon which contribute to global warming ("Electrostatic Smoke Precipitators." )
- Recycling things like lead batteries and aluminium cans can also help eliminate the need for more materials which would Require more smelting to create more materials therefore recycling would reduce pollution ("effects of acid rain")
- Modern processing plants can be designed to reduce emissions at very low levels, these however can be very expensive ("effects of acid rain")
- This is why many plants are installing electrostatic precipitators rather than redesigning the factories ("effects of acid rain")