Formation of acid mists
Larger acid mist particles are created in sulfuric acid drying and absorbing towers as a result of the splash and shear of liquid acid in the distributor and over the packing. Tese particles are entrained in the upward gas fow. More difcult to collect small acid particles are formed by the reaction of sulfur trioxide with any water vapor present and by the condensation of acid from the gaseous or vapor phase. Tese acid particles can corrode blowers, ductwork and heat exchangers, damage catalyst and cause atmospheric pollution.
In a sulfuric acid plant, much of the mist is mechanically generated. Te fothing action in the trough style distributor along with bubbling in the downcomers generate spray particles. Also, acid drops are stripped of the acid fowing over and through the tower packing.

Collection of acid mists
A fber bed mist eliminator for sulfuric acid service is a thick flter consisting of acid resistant glass fbers packed in a supporting cage. Gases containing the mist particles are directed horizontally through the fber beds. Particles contact and collect on individual fbers of the bed and then coalesce to form liquid flms and droplets which are moved through the bed by gas fow. Te collected liquid then drains of the downstream face of the bed by gravity.

Physics
• Particles larger than 3.0 microns are collected when their momentum prevents them from  following gas streamlines around fbers. Tey  leave the streamline, strike a fber and are collected by the fber.
• Between 1.0 and 3.0 micron size particles  tend to follow the gas streamlines as they fow relatively close to fbers. A 1.0 micron  particle, for example, passing within 0.5 micron of a fber will be collected by the fber.
• Submicron particles have random side-to-side movement caused by collisions with gas molecules, greatly increasing the probability of collision with a fber.

Applications
• Sulfuric Acid Mists  
• Phosphoric Acid Mists
• Hydrochloric Acid Mists 
• Wet Chlorine Gas (Brine mist removal)   
• Dry Chlorine gas (H2SO4removal) 
• Plasticizer Mist 
• Compressed air and refrigerant gas (oil mist removal) 
• Fertilizer Prill Towers 
• Ammonium Chloride mists