Pollution kills! While air pollution causes asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, water pollution is responsible for diarrhea, gastroenteritis, and cholera. This is why governments around the world are swinging into action and implementing stringent emission- and effluent-control regulations on industries. As a result, factories are installing additional equipment which cleans the exhaust and liquid effluents, before they are discharged into the atmosphere and waterbodies, respectively. One of the most effective ways to control what goes out is simple filtration.
In the coming years, the demand of air-filtering bags is expected to increase faster, with the rising awareness about keeping dust and other airborne pollutants away from industrial machinery. Over time, as dust accumulates on machines, it hampers the working of the moving parts, which results in production inefficiency and electricity wastage. Thus, to take care of both these issues, air filters are being integrated with the critical components of the machines. Another reason behind the surging demand for air filter bags is their escalating usage in coal-based power plants.
The power sector accounts for a major chunk of the harmful gases released into the air. For instance, as per the U.S. Department of Energy, power plants are the biggest source of sulfur dioxide, acidic gas, and mercury emissions in the country, accounting for 64%, 75%, and 50% of the total emissions, respectively. Polyphenylene sulfide is the material of choice for air filter bags used in coal power plants as well as in incinerators, as it can withstand high temperature as well as highly acidic environments.
Mining, chemicals & pharmaceuticals, steel & power, water treatment, brewing, cement, and food & beverage are the primary industries where air and liquid filter bags are used. Among these, the chemicals & pharmaceutical sector is the largest user of these products, as liquid filtration is of prime importance here, especially in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Even the slightest contamination in the drug can kill the user, which is why pharma firms have to deal with extremely stringent regulatory policies.
In the coming years, the demand for these bags would increase the fastest for the primary, secondary, and tertiary stages of the water treatment process. Stringent regulations are imposed on water treatment plants regarding the quality of potable water, which is why filtration is essential here. Other than water treatment, even the cement sector is procuring air and liquid filtration bags in large numbers, due to the growing demand for cement, on account of the expanding infrastructure sector.
Globally, Asia-Pacific (APAC) accounts for the highest usage of these bags, as a result of the strict emission control policies and requirement for clean air in indoor spaces. Additionally, with the expansion of the food and beverages, power, construction, mining, and oil and gas sectors, as the result of the swift urbanization and industrialization, the liquid and air filter bags market is expected to keep growing in APAC. The surging pharmaceutical production is also playing a part, as these bags are extensively used for recovery of the catalyst and active ingredients, purification and removal using activated carbon, and filtration of gelatins.
Hence, with the growth of industries, in an era when air and water pollution are serious issues, the demand for liquid and air filter bags would keep increasing.