Abstract: A device for separating particles contained in a gas stream and the associated process use a spongy type separator to process gas streams containing liquid or solid particles of a size substantially smaller than one micrometer. The separator is advantageously made of a reticulated foam pierced with channels for the flow of the gas streams.

Abstract: An agglomeration and precipitation assembly which includes an agglomeration device in combination with a precipitation device. The agglomeration device is intended to receive a turbulent gas stream containing fine suspended particles and to discharge the stream in which the major part of the fine particles have agglomerated in the form of larger particles. The precipitation device is provided downstream of the agglomeration device to receive the stream coming from the agglomeration device and to separate the larger particles from the gas stream. The fine particles can be separated from a turbulent gas stream by first agglomerating the fine particles in the form of larger particles, and then separating the larger particles by precipitation.