Application of innovative packing materials for air purification from volatile organic compounds in a scrubber

Abstract

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are major contributors to air pollution that are emitted from industrial and domestic sources, inflicting damage on environmental and human health. There are a lot of studies dedicated to the abatement of these VOCs and the mitigation of their impact. Among air purification methods, scrubbers are extensively employed due to their high efficiency in VOC removal, to increase the performance of these VOCs packing materials are used, in the form of beds within the scrubber. The choice of packing material is significant in optimizing mass transfer efficiency, enhancing gas-liquid interaction, and minimizing pressure loss. Conventional materials such as ceramics, plastics, and metals have been the subject of intensive study; however, recent trends have been in the direction of biodegradable and nano-coated materials to promote sustainability and functionality. This review discusses packed-bed wet scrubbers as a tool of air purification from VOCs and the current trends in new packing materials such as biodegradable and nano-coated plastics, assessing their efficacy in VOC absorption and removal.