Systems and methods for removing particulate matter from a gas stream

A method comprising:

• (a) directing a particulate-containing gas stream having a concentration of at least 0.3 mg/m3 of PM2.5 particulate matter into a horizontally disposed housing via a waste gas inlet, the horizontally disposed housing comprising:
• (i) the waste gas inlet at one end;
• (ii) a treated gas outlet at an opposite end;
• (iii) a liquid inlet manifold proximal the waste gas inlet, the liquid inlet manifold comprising a plurality of nozzles, wherein the nozzles are oriented to spray liquid droplets co-current to the gas stream;
• (iv) and a demister proximal the treated gas outlet;
• wherein the horizontally disposed housing is substantially free of flow deflection members between the liquid inlet manifold and the demister, thereby defining a substantially unrestricted particulate-liquid contacting zone between the liquid inlet manifold and the demister;
• (b) passing the gas stream through the substantially unrestricted particulate-liquid contacting zone;
• (c) supplying a liquid to the plurality of nozzles via the liquid inlet manifold, thereby spraying liquid droplets through the substantially unrestricted particulate-liquid contacting zone and co-current to the flow of the gas stream, wherein the liquid droplets have a volume median droplet diameter (DV0.5) of from 240 microns to 600 microns;
• (d) contacting at least some of the PM2.5 particulate matter with at least some of the liquid droplets, thereby removing at least 50 wt. % of the PM2.5 particulate matter from the gas stream.