Progress in the heterogeneous condensation of water vapor for PM2.5 removal

Industrial processes release large amounts of fine particles into the atmosphere, posing a serious threat to human health worldwide. Effective removal of fine particles is urgently required, particularly in coal combustion processes. The heterogeneous condensation (HC) of water vapor stands out for its superiority in low transformation costs, environmental friendliness, and high removal efficiency in the removal of fine particles. This article first summarizes the current status of HC for fine particle removal, including adding steam and wet phase transition, as well as the synergistic removal of multi-pollutants from coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) via wet phase transition. In-depth discussion is also given on how to strengthen HC using techniques such as wetting agent addition, magnetized water, multi-field combinations, and partial gas circulation. Finally, to expand its potential applications, the development of HC promoting the removal of fine particles from biomass combustion, iron and steel enterprises, and indoor air is being discussed.

Automated summary

Industrial processes release large amounts of fine particles, which pose a serious threat to human health globally. The heterogeneous condensation (HC) of water vapor is a superior method for the removal of fine particles due to its low cost, environmental friendliness, and high efficiency. This article summarizes the current status of HC for fine particle removal, explores ways to strengthen HC using various techniques, and discusses its potential applications in biomass combustion, iron and steel enterprises, and indoor air.