Given below are two statements :

Statement I:

In a scrubber, the exhaust from the thermal plant is passed through the electric wires to charge the dust particles.

Statement II:

Particulate matter (PM 2.5) can not be removed by a scrubber but can be removed by an electrostatic precipitator.

In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below :

Concept: 

• Particulate matters refer to a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air.
• There are several ways of removing particulate matter; however, the most widely used is the electrostatic precipitator.

Explanation:  

• The scrubber removes harmful materials from industrial exhaust gases before they are released into the environment.
• Electrostatic precipitator consists of electrode wires that are maintained at several thousand volts, which produce a corona that releases electrons.
• Electrons get attached to dust particles giving them a net negative charge.
• The collecting plates are grounded and attract charged dust particles.

Statement I: In a scrubber, the exhaust from the thermal plant is passed through the electric wires to charge the dust particles. 

The limestone present in the slurry of scrubber removes SO₂ from the exhaust. Therefore statement I is incorrect.

Statement II:

Particulate matter (PM 2.5) can not be removed by a scrubber but can be removed by an electrostatic precipitator.

An electrostatic precipitator is the most effective device to remove 99% of particulate matter, ‘even PM 2.5’ present in the exhaust. Therefore statement II is correct.

Thus, option 1 is the correct answer.