a membrane is used as a collection substrate in an electrostatic precipitator . possible material choices include fibers in the form of woven mats , screens made from stainless steel wires or fiber reinforced polymer composite membranes . the membranes have a tensile bias applied during operation , and have impulse tensile force applied during a dust removal step . by combining a dry esp membrane field with wet - film cleaning field , it may be possible to improve collection efficiencies both by reducing turbulence and eliminating re - entrainment losses due to rapping . through implementation of new materials that resist hostile esp environments , the invention enhances the possibility of using novel technologies , such as pulsed corona and others , suitable for removal of molecules such as no x and so x , which is very important for meeting proposed pm2 . 5 epa emissions regulations .