Method and apparatus for removing particulate and gaseous pollutants from a gas stream

A method of removing particulate and sulfur oxides from a gas stream comprising the steps of:

• saturating the gas stream with a recirculate absorption solution to saturate the gas stream to the dew point temperature of the water vapor-gas mixture and remove particulates and sulfur oxides from the gas stream cocurrently contacting the cooled and saturated gas stream with an ultrafine mist of a fresh absorption solution, said ultrafine mist having an average droplet size of approximately twenty (20) microns;
• directing said gas stream through constricted area;
• directing said gas stream to a secondary contacting area;
• where it is contacted with a coarse mist of recirculated absorption solution;
• directing the gas stream to a demister;
• demisting said gas stream prior to discharge of said gas stream into the environment;
• collecting spent absorption solution;
• controlling the rate of input of fresh solution by monitoring the pH of spent absorption solution and adjusting the rate based upon said pH;
• and
• controlling the rate of output of spent solution by monitoring the rate of fresh solution input.

A process for removing particulate matter and sulfur oxides from a gas stream comprising the steps:

• Saturating the gas stream with a recycled solution containing an absorption agent to cool the gas stream and to saturate the gas stream to the dew point temperature of a water vapor-gas mixture;
• cocurrently contacting the cooled and saturated gas stream with an ultrafine mist of fresh solution containing the absorption agent, the ultrafine mist having an average mist droplet size less than fifty (50) microns;
• directing the gas stream to a constricted area to create a constricted gas stream
• recovering spent solution from the constricted area;
• treating the gas stream with a coarse spray of recovered solution to remove particulate matter and sulfur oxides, said coarse spray having an average mist droplet size of approximately 100 microns;
• demisting the gas stream;
• and
• releasing the demisted gas stream into the environment.