Method and apparatus for electrostatic precipitating particles from a gaseous effluent

A method for electrostatically precipitating particles from a gaseous medium carrying the same, comprising the steps of:

• passing the medium through a precipitating station having a plurality of electrodes including at least one positively charged electrode and at least one negatively charged electrode, selective electrodes being charged to produce a strong electric field within said precipitating station;
• subjecting said medium within said precipitating station to a supply of positive ions produced by a thermionic ion emitting material comprising the beta phase of Li.sub.2 O . Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 . 2 SiO.sub.2 heated to a temperature sufficient to produce said supply of ions;
• said ions charging the particles in said medium so that the magnitude of the attractive force between the particles and said negative electrode increases sufficiently so that the charged particles move toward said negatively charged electrode.

A method for removing particles from a gaseous medium at a precipitating station having a plurality of electrodes including at least one anode and at least one cathode, the cathode being adapted to attract particles having a net positive charge, comprising the steps of:

• charging said electrodes to produce a strong electric field within said precipitating station;
• passing the particle containing medium through the electrostatic precipitating station;
• subjecting the medium to ions of one sign produced by a thermionic ion emitter located within the precipitating station, said thermionic ion emitter comprising the beta phase of Li.sub.2 O . Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 . 2 SiO.sub.2 heated to a temperature sufficient to cause ion emission, the ions charging said particles in said medium so that said electric field causes said charged particles to be attracted to an oppositely charged electrode.