WET SCRUBBING FOR ACID, CHEMICAL AND ODOUR EXTRACT
Wet scrubber systems, sized to the gas you need to remove
Packed tower, venturi and multi-stage wet scrubbers for process, plant and laboratory extract. Not sure which type you need? Tell us what is in the extract and a process engineer will tell you what will work, and what will not.
✓The scrubber type chosen for your duty, not the one we happen to stock
✓Built in polypropylene or PVDF and wet-tested in our UK factory
✓A datasheet with predicted outlet figures you can give your regulator
Which scrubber fits your extract?
Four fields to start. A process engineer will reply within 4 working hours with the scrubber type that fits, and why.
No obligation. Happy to sign your NDA first.
Which wet scrubber fits your duty
Start from what is in your extract
"Wet scrubber" covers several different machines. The right one depends on the gas, whether there is dust or mist with it, and how much air you move. Pick the duty closest to yours for the detail, or send it to us and we will tell you.
Packed tower scrubbers
HCl, HF, SO₂, ammonia and other gases that dissolve or react in liquor. High removal at low pressure drop, as long as the extract is not dusty.
Packed tower scrubbers Acid fume and mistAcid fume scrubbers
Pickling, etching, plating and wet bench extract. HCl, HF, nitric with NOx, sulphuric and chromic mist.
Acid fume scrubbers Chemical process exhaustChemical scrubbers
Acid, alkaline and oxidising streams from reactors and process vents, with the right liquor and dosing for each.
Chemical scrubbers Mixed streamsMulti-stage scrubbers
Two or three stages in series, each with its own liquor, for extract that carries acid and alkaline gases together.
Multi-stage scrubbers Dust or mist with gasVenturi scrubbers
For hot or dirty extract carrying particulate that would foul packing. Often paired with a packed tower to finish the gas.
Venturi scrubbers OdourOdour control scrubbers
H₂S, ammonia, amines and mercaptans from process, waste and wastewater sources that draw complaints.
Odour control scrubbers LaboratoryFume cupboard scrubbers
Compact scrubbers for acid digestion and other fume cupboard extract, sized to fit the lab or plant room.
Fume cupboard scrubbers Bulk storageTanker unloading scrubbers
Treat the air pushed out of storage tanks during bulk deliveries of HCl, ammonia and other chemicals.
Tanker unloading scrubbers Battery recyclingBattery recycling scrubbers
HF and acid gas from black mass pyrolysis, shredding and leaching, from pilot skids to full plant.
Battery recycling scrubbersWet scrubber types compared
| Type | Best for | Watch out for | How it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packed tower | Soluble gases at high removal: HCl, HF, SO₂, ammonia | Dust or heavy mist will foul the packing | Gas rises through a bed of packing against falling liquor |
| Venturi | Particulate and mist with gas, hot or dirty extract | Higher pressure drop and fan power; less gas absorption on its own | Gas is accelerated through a throat where liquor is atomised |
| Multi-stage | Mixed acid and alkaline streams, or several limits to meet | Larger footprint and more liquors to manage | Two or three scrubbing stages in series, each with its own chemistry |
Honest scope: a wet scrubber removes gases that dissolve or react in liquor. Solvent vapours that do not dissolve in water usually need a different technology, such as activated carbon. If that is your duty, we will say so.
Why a Caldera wet scrubber
One team from design to commissioning
The right type first
We look at your gas, dust, flow and limit before we pick a scrubber type. If a wet scrubber is not the answer, we tell you before you spend anything.
Sized, with the numbers shown
Bed depth, liquid-to-gas ratio, reagent use and pressure drop are calculated for your duty and set out on a datasheet, not hidden behind a model number.
Built and wet-tested in house
Fabricated by our own team in polypropylene, PVDF or other materials chosen for the chemistry. Every unit runs wet in our factory before dispatch.
How a wet scrubber works
From contaminated extract to clean discharge
Most wet scrubbing systems are built from the same blocks. Which ones you need, and how big, depends on your duty.
Liquor: water, caustic, acid or an oxidising solution, depending on the gas you are removing.
Controls: dosing to setpoint, liquor flow and level interlocks, signals to your BMS or PLC.
Bleed: spent liquor is bled under control. The datasheet tells you the rate and what is in it.
What you receive
Evidence, not just equipment
- Datasheet with inlet and predicted outlet concentration for each contaminant, liquor use, bleed and pressure drop
- General arrangement drawing showing the scrubber, fan, ducting and dosing
- Factory wet test before the scrubber leaves our workshop
- Signed commissioning record of setpoints and readings, ready for your permit file
For EHS and permitting leads
Numbers you can put in a permit application
Every quote comes with predicted outlet concentrations, so you can check them against your limit before you commit.
We design to the regime your site answers to, including UK Environmental Permitting, local authority permits, and the BAT conclusions that apply to your sector across Europe. Our documentation also supports your COSHH assessment and LEV thorough examination, required at least every 14 months.
Before you choose a type, have these ready
- What is in the extract and roughly how much, ideally a gas analysis
- Extract flow in m³/h, and the gas temperature
- Dust or mist in the stream, if any
- Your emission limit, from the permit or consent
- Space and services: footprint, water, drainage and power
Missing some of it? Send what you have. We can help you fill the gaps.
What happens when you ask
From enquiry to a commissioned wet scrubber
Tell us what is in the extract
Four fields, plus flow, limits and process data if you have them. NDA first if you need one.
Engineer reply in 4 hours
A process engineer, not a salesperson, comes back within 4 working hours with the scrubber type that fits.
Sizing and quotation
Datasheet, general arrangement and price, in 10 working days.
Build, test, commission
Fabricated and wet-tested in the UK, delivered and commissioned on your site.
Questions engineers ask us
How do I know which type of wet scrubber I need?
Start from the contaminant. Gases that dissolve or react in liquor suit a packed tower. Dust or heavy mist with the gas points to a venturi or a quench ahead of the tower. Acid and alkaline gases together usually need more than one stage. Send us the duty and we will recommend the type with the reasoning.
Can a wet scrubber remove solvents and VOCs?
Only the ones that dissolve in water. Most solvent vapours do not, and need a different technology such as activated carbon. We will tell you if that applies to your extract.
What does a wet scrubber need on site?
Floor space, a water supply, a drain for the liquor bleed, power for the pump and fan, and reagent storage where dosing is used. The general arrangement drawing shows all of it.
How much does a wet scrubber cost?
It depends on the flow, the chemistry and how many stages you need. Send the duty and you will get a sized quotation with a datasheet in 10 working days.
Do you supply outside the UK?
Yes, across the UK and Europe. Equipment is UKCA and CE marked.
Tell us what is in your extract
Send the gas, the flow and the limit you have to meet. We will tell you which scrubber will work, and which will not, before anyone talks about price.
Get a recommendation Engineer reply within 4 working hours · hello@caldera-technologies.com