Control particulate and metals HAPs

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA) have significantly changed the air quality regulations in the United States. A major component of the CAAA is the stringent regulations concerning emissions of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Industries must prepare for a steady stream of these regulations to be promulgated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While the rules are being implemented during the next several years, companies must plan to modify their operations and emission control systems to meet the regulatory challenges. This article describes add-on technologies that are available to control particulate matter (including fine particulates) and trace metal HAP emissions from sources regulated under the CAAA. These devices will likely be regarded as available reduction alternatives for specific sources to meet the maximum achievable control technology (MACT) requirements for HAPs emissions. The article concludes with an example where air-pollution reduction alternatives are evaluated to determine the best available control option.