Identification of optimal filtration solutions and evaluation of their feasibility and effectiveness for hazardous dust control in Punjab metal industries

Abstract:

The metal industries of Mandi Gobindgarh, India, present huge occupational and environmental hazards due to hazardous dust created during the metal processing activities. The objective of the present study was to find the best filtration technique for dust removal under hazardous conditions and to investigate the possibility and efficiency of the technique in the actual industrial processes. The four filtration technologies, bag filters, electrostatic precipitators, cyclone separators, and hybrid filtration systems were compared through industrial surveys, field measurements, and performance evaluations. The dust removal efficiency, energy consumption, operational cost, improvement of workers' safety, and environmental performance were compared for the filtration systems. The findings showed that the combination of filters (hybrid systems) had the highest dust removal efficiency (99%), the maximum reduction of exposure of workers (95%), and the best air quality improvement (96%), with relatively low operational costs and high levels of feasibility (90%). The findings suggest that the use of hybrid filtration technology is the most effective and sustainable method for controlling hazardous dust in metal industries in the state of Punjab, which in turn would enhance the working environment safety, environmental compliance, and industrial sustainability in the metal industries.