A diesel particulate filter was added to the vehicle emissions legislation list back in 2009. These filters are made to remove soot from diesel vehicle exhaust. These filters can remove over eighty-five percent of soot expelled by diesel engine exhaust.

How Does a Diesel Particulate Filter Work?

The filter itself is constructed of a ceramic, honeycomb shaped filter. As the exhaust from a diesel engine is forced through the filter, the filter attracts and traps the soot leaving the expelled gasses less harmful to the environment. This filter must be cleaned and maintained properly to insure maximum pollution reduction. Since the soot is trapped, it is also stuck to the filter.

The waste from these particulate filters are disposed of two ways. Through either a process called active regeneration or one referred to as passive regeneration.

For the active regeneration process, when the level of soot stuck to the filter is approximately at forty-five percent, fuel injection change to allow the exhaust heat to increase. The soot is burned off turning powdery ash. This process is mainly used in automobiles.

The passive process is much simpler and is used in semis or other vehicles that make long distance trips or that run twenty-four hours per day. The passive process takes place naturally, as these vehicles exhaust reaches the idea soot burning temperature naturally. The soot is constantly burned off into ash.

Adding these filters to diesel engines helps save the environment by reducing the waste exhaust that is produced. This helps the environment by allowing diesel fuel to be a cleaner resource.