To prevent the harmful effects of industrial dust on human health, countries around the world have established increasingly stringent control standards. The development of dust removal equipment for industrial gas purification has received widespread attention globally, and the research, development, and application of various dust removal systems have gradually become widespread both domestically and internationally.

Since the 1980s, dust removal equipment has seen significant development worldwide.

United States

Since the Clean Air Act was enacted in 1963 and subsequently revised in 1970, 1975, and 1977, the revised and supplemented version of the Act in 1990, passed by Congress, has become one of the most stringent and comprehensive regulations internationally. Its main contents include identifying types of harmful air pollutants, dividing the nation into attainment areas and non-attainment areas (which vary with pollutants), setting deadlines for the latter to meet standards, and implementing an emissions permit system. Additionally, it includes provisions related to vehicle emissions, acid rain, and ozone layer protection.

In terms of standards, the United States has established the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPs), and the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), among others. These standards regulate pollutant emissions and have become increasingly stringent over time. For example, regarding power plants, the emission standards in early 20th-century America were 0.6 lb/10^6 Btu. The NSPS in 1971 was reduced to 0.116 lb/10^6 Btu, and further decreased to 0.031 lb/Btu by 1978, which is just 1/20th of the early 20th-century levels.

Germany

The emission standards for various industrial pollutants are set at 50mg/m^3. The recently announced 17B1mSchV standard specifies a daily average concentration of 10mg/m^3 and a half-hour average concentration of 30mg/m^3.

Germany has progressively reduced dust emissions since the 1960s, with a decrease of approximately 65% over the past three decades, showing a further decreasing trend. Similarly, the concentration of total suspended particles (TSP) in the environment has also dropped by about 65%.

Japan

Standard requirements for coal-fired power plant flue gas desulfurization systems call for particulate matter emissions below 30 mg/Nm³ at the outlet. In proximity to large cities, however, the requirements are similar to those for oil-fired power plants, aiming for emissions below 10 mg/Nm³.

China

Since the trial emission standards for 13 substances were first published in 1973, various industrial sectors have successively established dust emission standards for their respective industries. For instance, the emission standards for industrial boilers are determined based on the first, second, and third categories of atmospheric environmental standards. The 1983 standard (GB3841-83) set the limits at 200, 400, and 600 mg/Nm^3, respectively. The standards published in 1992 (GB13271-91) set the limits at 200, 300, and 400 mg/Nm^3 for installations before August 1, 1992, and at 100, 250, and 350 mg/Nm^3 for installations after August 1, 1992. Additionally, requirements were also set for the sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission concentration.

Category One areas include nature reserves, scenic spots, and other regions requiring special protection; Category Two areas encompass residential zones, mixed residential-commercial-transportation zones, cultural areas, industrial zones, and rural areas.

Air Quality Requirements for Environmental Air Functional Areas

Zone A applies the first-grade concentration limit.

The second category area is subject to the second-level concentration limits.