Have we not already heard users of pneumatic equipment complaining about the presence of water in the compressed air supply conduits, risking reducing the service life of the pneumatic equipment or increasing maintenance costs?

Also imagine the consequences if, for example, stoppage of the production chain is needed because the risks of contamination at the process level are no longer under control …
The notion of Air quality then takes on real meaning when the reliability of a compressed air system is compromised.

Why treat compressed air?

Whatever the technology for the compressors available on the market, the use of compressed air with no specific treatment at the outlet of the compressor(s) is a source of problems. Indeed, compressed air is charged with impurities which are harmful for your use. An air treatment phase should follow the compressed air production phase.

Where do these pollutants come from and what are they?

The ambient air, the distribution piping and the compressor itself are sources of contamination. Indeed, contaminants in the ambient air (particles, dust, pollen, exhaust gas and hydrocarbon emissions, etc.) sucked up by the compressor are pumped out in the compressed air network which itself is potentially a carrier of impurities (rust, oil, etc.). Moreover, the actual act itself of compressing results in an increase in the number of pollutants: 1 m3 of atmospheric air compressed to 7 bar will contain 8 times more contaminants, at equivalent volume.

ISO 8573.1, the Air Quality standard

Standard ISO 8573.1:2001 defines several classes of air quality, stating pollutant quantities and content (particles, water and oil) per m3 of compressed air.