Advanced Substrate for Diesel Particulate Removal

Soot particles from diesel engines are now recognised as carcinogenic and are a major contributor to urban air

pollution. Modern cars and trucks are fitted with Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) systems which are composed of

porous honeycomb structures which trap soot particles and then oxidise them using the exhaust gases when

there is sufficient heat. This project aims to prove the feasibility of a novel filtering device capable of

dynamically trapping and eliminating soot particles. The device uses a fibrous substrate sandwiched between

highly porous ceramic plates. Trapped particles are removed by exposure to high electric current densities. The

project intends to develop advanced versions of a fibrous substrate where loadings of adsorbed nanoscale

oxidation catalyst facilitate soot removal at lower temperatures. Such advanced substrates will enable the

development of attractive novel alternatives to conventional DPFs which can potentially make major in-roads in

providing effective, lightweight, cost-effective, robust and affordable emissions abatement technology for

developing countries with severe urban air quality problems like India.