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Anders, L.* ; Bauer, M.* ; Jeong, S.J.* ; Schmidt, M.* ; Hakkim, H.* ; Kalamasnikovs, A.* ; Rosewig, E.I.* ; Schade, J.* ; Irsig, R.* ; Ehlert, S.* ; Bendl, J.* ; Saraji-Bozorgzad, M.R.* ; Giocastro, B.* ; Kaefer, U.* ; Etzien, U.* ; Buchholz, B.* ; Adam, T.* ; Sklorz, M.* ; Streibel, T.* ; Czech, H. ; Passig, J. ; Zimmermann, R.*

Limited efficiency of wet scrubbers in reducing the environmental impact of ship-emitted particles.

Environ. Chem. Lett., DOI: 10.1007/s10311-025-01830-x (2025)
Publ. Version/Full Text Research data DOI
Open Access Gold (Paid Option)
Creative Commons Lizenzvertrag
Sulfur dioxide pollution by ship emissions can be efficiently decreased by using exhaust gas scrubbers, yet particles can pass through the scrubber and be released into the atmosphere. Here, we studied the impact of using a wet scrubber on the composition of particle emissions, by single-particle analysis. At low engine loads, results show no significant changes in particle composition of metals, salts, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). At high engine loads, the scrubber reduced soot and PAH signatures about fourfold. Particles passing through the scrubber undergo minimal chemical changes, except for sulfate uptake. The cleaning effect of wet scrubbers is attributed to the removal of water-soluble gas-phase compounds, diffusion-dominated uptake of ultrafine particles, and wet deposition of coarse particles. The scrubber has little effect on reducing the health and environmental impacts of the remaining particles that pass through it. These emitted particles, primarily in the 60-200 nm size range, constitute a significant portion of the inhalable particle mass and have the potential for long-range transport.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Scientific Article
Corresponding Author
Keywords Ship emissions; Air pollution; Scrubber; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Exhaust cleaning; Inhalable particles; Particulate Matter; Air-quality; Mixing State; Emissions; Aerosol; Fuel; Metals
ISSN (print) / ISBN 1610-3653
e-ISSN 1610-3661
Journal Environmental Chemistry Letters
Publisher Springer
Publishing Place Tiergartenstrasse 17, D-69121 Heidelberg, Germany
Non-patent literature Publications
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Cooperation Group Comprehensive Molecular Analytics (CMA)
Grants Helmholtz Association
European Union - NextGenerationEU
dtec.bw-Digitalization and Technology Research Center of the Bundeswehr
Projekt DEAL