The literature on the adhesion of particles impacting on solid and liquid collectors was reviewed. Different forces or mechanisms affecting collision and adhesion of particles with collectors were described. Good qualitative agreement existed between experiment and theory in the case of solid collectors, although the presence of and variation in surface asperities prevented good quantitative agreement. For liquid collectors, disagreements both theoretical and experimental abounded in the literature on the ability of such collectors to collect non or partially wettable particles. The use of charge on drops in particulate control devices has been shown to greatly enhance the collection of fine particles. However, data indicate that too high a charge may lead to a decrease in efficiencies due to Rayleigh instability of the drops and charge exchange between particles and drops. A program of experimental and modelling studies is proposed to resolve these difficulties in order to be able to optimize control of particulate emissions for fine particles.

"September 1981." "US EPA COOP AGREE CR806819." Includes bibliographical references (pages 54-59). Microfiche.