Soot Abatement Improvement by Microwave Programmed Regeneration of Fe/V/K-SiC Foam

Microwave heating was studied as assisted regeneration technique of diesel particulate filters. An SiC foam was used for the good microwave-absorbing properties of silicon carbide with respect to other ceramic materials. The influence of the soot-loading conditions and of the heating rate on the foam regeneration by microwaves was evaluated. Furthermore, a catalyst based on Fe/V/K was supported on the foam. Results showed that microwave heating is an effective regeneration technique and that the presence of the catalyst Fe/V/K is very promising because of its specific activity and its microwave-absorbing properties. Indeed, the capability of Fe/V/K-SiC foam to be heated by microwaves, independently on the amount of soot, allows to maintain temperature sufficiently high to perform a complete foam regeneration with a lower energy consumption with respect to the uncatalytic foam.