Advances in Catalyst Technology for Light Duty Diesels for South American and European Emission Levels

The drive towards improved fuel economy and lower emissions for Diesel vehicles requires the development of catalysts capable of converting not only carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC), but also particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in a lean exhaust environment.

This paper reviews the approaches that are being considered for this purpose, for light duty Diesels, together with factors that may influence catalyst performance such as components in the fuel and quality of the lubricant.