Study of the catalyst load for a microwave susceptible catalytic DPF

• Formulation of an innovative soot oxidation catalyst.
• The catalyst simultaneously absorbs MW and has a good oxidation activity.
• The MW assisted regeneration is able to completely clean the catalytic filter.
• The simultaneous use of MW and catalyzed filter allows a higher energy saving.
• The MW catalytic DPF regeneration is independent of the engine operating conditions.

The development of a fast, safe and cost effective Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) regeneration procedure is the major remaining technological challenge in the use of this device. In our previous works we showed that the simultaneous use of a MW applicator and a specifically catalyst loaded DPF, with 15%wt of CuFe2O4, allows to reduce the temperature, the energy and the time required for the DPF regeneration. Starting by these very promising results, in this work we continued to study in order to further improve the performances of the catalyzed DPF in terms of catalytic activity, to reduce the temperature and the MW energy required for the regeneration. The objectives of this work are to optimize the preparation procedure of the catalytic DPF, to study the effect of the active species load, and to verify the feasibility of the MW technology by assessing the energy balance of the regeneration phase, comparing it to the actually employed regeneration technologies. In the future we want to evaluate the activity toward the other pollutants present in the diesel exhausts (such as NOx).

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