A new proposed air pollution rule in the USA would require installation of scrubbers on more than 200 cement kilns, according to McIlvaine.
Another big market is waste-to-energy. There are typically two scrubbers in these plants: one captures hydrogen chloride; and the other captures the sulphur dioxide (SO2). China has embarked on a major programme to burn its garbage and the USA has also awakened to the advantages of using waste as a substitute for coal in energy production.
The biggest growth over the next decade will be in Asia, McIlvaine continues. Scrubbers are the basic air pollution control device in developing countries. Foundries, steel mills, mining operations and pulp mills all use scrubbers but most of the construction of basic industry is taking place in Asia.
There is major stimulus funding for municipal wastewater treatment plants in China, the USA and some other countries. Sewage treatment generates noxious odours. A large treatment facility may purchase a number of scrubbers with a total outlay of over $1 million.
China will buy 50% more industrial scrubbers in 2012 than the USA, and its purchases will equal the USA and Japan combined, concludes McIlvaine in its latest Scrubber/Adsorber/Biofilter World Markets forecast.