Automotive pollution control

Catalysis for depollution of mobile sources (vehicles) or stationary sources (power plants, incinerators, burners) has made spectacular progress since the 1970s. The development of after-treatment systems has made it possible to reduce emissions of NO _x , CO and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and particulates, now regulated by the EURO6 standard. The relatively rapid deployment of catalytic converters has enabled a 90% reduction in pollutant emissions. Today, each powertrain has its own dedicated solutions, such as 3-way catalysis for gasoline engines, and nitrogen oxide reduction and soot oxidation for diesel engines.

The effluents generated by the two types of engine differ considerably in their composition, and in particular in the air/fuel ratio introduced into the engine. The latter is higher for diesel engines,...