Mutual cooperation on the development of Gas Scrubber with BRNO UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

The liquid chemisorptive gas Scrubber, which is the result of cooperation between the Faculty of Chemistry and Faculty of Mechanical Engineering VUT and MVB Opava, seeks to increase efficiency of the existing air scrubbers significantly. A prototype of the equipment, which could clean up to 90 % of pollutants from the air, was handed by the producer to the Brno University in December.

"When something is released into the water, a trace will remain by which it is usually possible to find the culprit, so the people are more careful, but it is very difficult to protect the air. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor the chemical and dust cleanliness of the atmosphere and invest in it," says Tomáš Svěrák, the spiritual father of the Scrubber, which has been designed primarily for separation of chemical pollutants. Incidentally, the Scrubber achieves the effect by a relatively simple way. "We create a screen of a solution with the appropriate chemicals through which the air passes and is thus cleaned, trying to achieve optimum quality of the air-liquid contact," explains Svěrák. He also transfers his ideas to the international ground of the European Federation of Chemical Engineering where he has represented the Czech Republic in the group of Separation Processes for many years.

Tomáš Svěrák with the Scrubber for separation of chemical pollutants from the air | Author: Igor Šefr

"The efficiency of the current Scrubbers is around 50 %, but we are able to reach up to 90 %," describes Svěrák the increase in efficiency. Two years ago, the first version of this equipment was successfully installed in PJSC Farmak, the largest producer of pharmaceuticals in Ukraine, where it cleans air vents of a large chemical production. "In contrast, we want to make small, intensive devices, which virtually anyone can afford at a reasonable price. Our belief is that one day, the Scrubber for dust removal will be installed on each house," explains Svěrák his future vision. This equipment is currently the most interesting project of his Group of Chemical Engineering. It originated years ago by cooperation between the Institute of Chemical Materials of the Faculty of Chemistry and the Laboratory of Heat and Flow of the Department of Mechanical Engineering VUT.

A very important element connected with installation of the Scrubber at the Faculty of Chemistry is involvement of the students and Ph.D. students who can become familiar with the removal of gaseous components and vapours that pollute the atmosphere. At present, especially separation of CO² from the atmosphere is tested there in cooperation with Joseph Kalivoda, for example.

Martin Žůrek, the MVB Opava director points out: "The participation of universities in the development of such technologies contributes to the implementation of very desirable modern ecological equipment, but also helps to create the feel of responsibility for the condition of our environment in the students. I believe that educating the people and doing something for ecology is the best thing that our generation can give to the future generations."

Source: Brno University of Technology