The issue of water contamination is urgent at this time in all regions of the Earth. One of the reasons is SOx emissions that negatively influence both the air and water environment. This is why it is not unexpected that governments aim to lower the amount of pollutants through every possible method. The most common way is the use of scrubbing systems that can be easily installed on ships.
Scrubbing is seen as a more cost-effective method of purification since it reduces expenses for the ship. The principle of wet scrubber operation includes the mixture of the exhaust gas with wash water where the water-soluble parts of the gas are taken away by dissipation into the wash water. Ship scrubbers remove most of the direct sulfate particulate matter, by the same token, controlling and reducing the emissions of SOx and PM contaminants.
The end product of the SOx from wet scrubber systems is sulfate which is one of the seawater components. Therefore, discharging SOx into the sea is viewed as a more favorable business decision, but only at this point since the sulfate level from exhaust gas scrubbing is minimal compared to the existing amount in the water.
Some components are the problem for their discharging into the ocean:
- chemical oxygen demand, when elevated, adversely affects aquatic ecosystems;
- numerous metals that are toxic to aquatic life and humans, even some essential metals but in high concentrations are harmful;
- excess nitrate concentrations;
- polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon;
- high pH level;
- turbidity.
Taking into account all the mentioned facts, the Chinese maritime administration has prohibited the use of open-loop scrubber systems, and consequently, wash water release. All ships in Singapore will have to use closed-loop wet scrubbers or burn 0.5 percent of sulfur fuel.
The prohibition is the result of the discussion about the potential impacts of wash water from wet scrubber systems on the maritime environment. It should be mentioned that wet scrubbers enable burning of fuels, even where it is banned. The system of wet scrubbing must be developed, and it is highly recommended to conduct more independent research and a more thorough analysis of the environmental risks.
If you are looking for the best air treatment device to improve air quality, Redwood Technology offers a cutting-edge type of wet scrubber – a Multi-Vortex wet air scrubber.
Redwood technology is a fast-growing vendor of wet air scrubbers. The multi-vortex scrubber can remove gas emissions, dust, vapors, and other pollutants from a gas stream. It is an innovative technology created to save water that makes it more cost-efficient and differs from other types of scrubbers. If you have any questions or would like to purchase a multi-vortex wet air scrubber, please contact us at info@rdwd.tech
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