Abstract
The trapping and regeneration of particulate matter (PM) viewed on the surface of diesel particulate catalyst-membrane filters (DPMFs) were investigated in detail using an All-In-Focus optical microscope. To improve filtration efficiency, a SiC DPMF with K- and Na-zeolite catalyst membranes and a cordierite membrane diesel particulate filter (DPF) with a Pt on alumina ceria catalyst were developed and evaluated successfully. Visualization results showed that trapped particulates were distributed only along the morphology of the membrane′s top surface. In the regeneration process, trapped particulates shrank gradually with time. The particulate oxidation temperature for zeolite catalyst membranes was about 100 °C lower than that for a noncatalyst DPF. The activation energy of particulates on zeolite catalyst membranes was about 26 to 30 kJ/mole lower than that on a noncatalyst DPF. Thus, K- and Na-zeolite membranes have almost the same catalytic activity as a cordierite membrane with Pt on alumina ceria.
