Removal of organic aerosols from furnace flue gas by ceramic filters

Organic aerosols have severe effects on human health and climate change. In this study, a pilot-scale ceramic filter was used to remove the organic aerosols from furnace flue gas produced from industrial processes. The performance of ceramic filter and long-term stability of ceramic material were investigated. It showed that gas permeation flux fluctuated at a high level, which was the result of the surface filtration and special self-regeneration of the vertical ceramic filter. Removal efficiencies of TSP, PM10, and PM 2.5 aerosols were higher than 98.5%, and the rejection mechanisms were concluded as sieving, surface adhesion, and pore channel capture. Chemical characteristics of aerosol were analyzed based on FTIR spectra. Main organic compounds in the collected aerosols were paraffin binder, carboxylic acids, and esters. Carboxylic acids and esters were the products of the chemical reactions of paraffin and oxygen at high temperatures. After a long-term operation, ceramic membranes exhibited low flexural strength loss and slight variation in pore size distribution and the microstructure remained unchanged. Therefore, porous alumina membranes have potential for applications in the of removal organic aerosol emissions from industrial processes before reaching the atmosphere.