Grain dust is not a uniform gathering of particles; rather, it consists of various types and sizes of particles. The dust components vary depending on the type of grain that is being handled, however, grain dust typically consists of grain particles, soil particles including silica, plant material, fungi, bacteria, fertilizer and agricultural chemical residues, insect waste, small rodents and birds, endotoxins. Multiple conditions affect the composition of grain dust; for example, grain storage conditions, grain growing conditions, harvesting methods, storage methods, etc. Grains subjected to excessive water exposure may hold higher levels of dust and bacteria because of the decomposition processes.

The presence of grain dust in grain handling facilities poses significant risks to the health of workers and presents a threat of an explosion. The levels of grain dust must be observed and controlled, and the amount of dust needs to be lowered with the use of wet air scrubbers.

Inhaled grain dust causes mild throat irritation in most cases, however, prolonged exposure to grain dust which often happens at grain handling facilities and storage facilities can cause bigger health problems, like severe allergic reactions to endotoxins and other grain dust components, fever, muscle aches, headaches, and more. People exposed to grain dust remain sick hours after, some may experience side effects for days after the exposure. Some individuals are affected by Farmer’s Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis, which is a delayed allergic reaction caused when sensitive people inhale dust causing their bodies to produce antibodies. Another type of reaction to grain dust is Organic Dust Toxic Syndrome. Given the aforementioned reasons, grain dust control methods are an essential part of any grain handling facility. Wet air scrubbers are among the most effective ways to reduce the amount of grain dust in the air and dispose of it properly.

Dry dust collectors are often used instead of wet air scrubbers due to the initial costs being closer. Dry dust collectors are not optimal, as they foster ideal conditions for an explosion—confined areas, elevated dust levels, and oxygen. They are easily clogged and hard to clean. High concentrations of dust often clog them and cause breakdowns. Wet air scrubbers perform much better in comparison as they significantly reduce the risk of spontaneous combustion. However, most wet air scrubbers become blocked with a doughy material that forms when grain dust meets water.

To solve this issue, Optromix proposes Scroiler™ – a new type of wet air scrubber that is able to collect the grain dust efficiently without getting clogged. Scroiler™  produces the cleaning mist differently from other scrubber systems, which results in running costs that are much lower than for a common wet air scrubber. Polluted gas passes through the dispersing grille upwards to produce a spatial field of multiple gas microturbulence vortices. Cleaning liquid falls free over this gas field. Microturbulence disperses liquid to the “fluidized bed” which forms a highly effective cleaning mist.
If you are interested in Scroiler™, please contact us at info@optromix.com