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What are flue gas "scrubbers"?

The scrubbing of flue (chimney) gases refers to the removal of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitric oxide (NO), which are major components of air pollution, from exhaust gas in industrial processes. There are two types of scrubbers: wet and dry. Wet scrubbers use a chemical solvent—lime, limestone, sodium alkali, or diluted sulfuric acid—to remove the SO₂ formed during chemical reactions. In dry scrubbing, either a lime/limestone mixture or ammonia is sprayed into the flue gases.

Source: Miller, E. Willard, and Ruby ML Miller. Environmental Hazards: Air Pollution, pp. 44-45.

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