Advanced Substrate for Diesel Particulate Removal

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Soot particles from diesel engines are now recognised as carcinogenic and are a major contributor to urban airpollution. Modern cars and trucks are fitted with Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) systems which are composed ofporous honeycomb structures which trap soot particles and then oxidise them using the exhaust gases whenthere is sufficient heat. This project aims to prove the feasibility of a novel filtering device capable ofdynamically trapping and eliminating soot particles. The device uses a fibrous substrate sandwiched betweenhighly porous ceramic plates. Trapped particles are removed by exposure to high electric current densities. Theproject intends to develop advanced versions of a fibrous substrate where loadings of adsorbed nanoscaleoxidation catalyst facilitate soot removal at lower temperatures. Such advanced substrates will enable thedevelopment of attractive novel alternatives to conventional DPFs which can potentially make major in-roads inproviding effective, lightweight, cost-effective, robust and affordable emissions abatement technology fordeveloping countries with severe urban air quality problems like India.