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La Segunda (Chile) | Tuesday, Octuber 31st 2006

New Device Presented Reduced PM 2.5 Emissions from Diesel Fuels by up to 70%

After testing the technology at the Interlagos racetrack, the University of Sao Paulo laboratory concluded that Sabertec's impact diesel particulate filter (IDPF) is capable of reducing PM 2.5 emissions by up to 70 %.

Santiago.- Sabertec released in Chile the final results of the tests carried out on its impact diesel particulate filter (IDPF) using powered vehicles. The data showed a significant reduction in emissions. Particulate matter, known as PM 2.5 was eliminated by over 70 %. The tests were carried out by the Laboratory of Experimental Air Pollution, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo.

In 2005, the World Health Organization announced that PM 2.5 is one of the air pollutants that presents the most serious risks to human health. Particulate matter is a combination of solid or liquid particulates suspended in the air and that have varying diameters. Fine particulates with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less are especially harmful as they invade the human respiratory system and are not controlled by any natural barriers.

“A device like this one could mean a significant progress for cities like Santiago, where a large part of air pollution is produced by PM 2.5 generated by mobile sources of diesel, such as buses and trucks”, said Sabertec CEO Bill O’Brien.

The human body can defend itself fairly efficiently against substances with a larger diameter but has few defenses against smaller particulates. According to studies by the Chilean National Environmental Commission, around 48 % of particulate matter pollutants in Santiago are made up of PM 2.5, which has its origins mainly in fossil fuels.

The Tests

The impact diesel particulate filter (IDPF) was designed by Brazilian engineer Sergio Sangiovani. His invention was patented by the U.S. environmental technology company Sabertec. In contrast to catalysts, the IDPF is highly efficient for high sulfur content diesel vehicles such as those used in Chile and other South American countries.

Furthermore, the IDPF device does not convert particulate matter into CO2 (unlike catalysts), one of the main generators of the hothouse effect and main cause of global warming. Easy to install and economic, the device can be used in different operating conditions and can be easily cleaned.

In order to determine the parameters and protocols required to test the efficiency of the IDPF device's capacity to reduce emissions, Sabertec relied on the support of several entities including the Laboratory of Experimental Air Pollution, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo as well as the Sao Paulo municipality environmental division.

The tests were carried out on the Interlagos racetrack where scientists and engineers simulated normal traffic conditions using a bus borrowed from Sao Paulo city. During the test, the bus braked, accelerated, went up slopes and round curves.

Test Results

The inhalation of pollutants such as PM 2.5 can have serious effects on human health including respiratory or heart problems as well as cancer. The tests revealed that the concentration of PM 2.5 accumulated by the vehicle with the filtering device installed was 70 % less than the PM 2.5 accumulated without the device.

Sergio Sangiovani, who created the device, said the results could be used to improve future conditions: “We are confident that this is just the beginning of a new era and that we can definitely improve people's quality of life. Sao Paulo alone has an urban transport bus fleet of 15 thousand vehicles. The IDPF device offers an opportunity for looking after the environment and enabling the new generations to breathe a better quality air”.

“We are very satisfied with the results recorded at the Interlagos racetrack. The IDPF technology represents a major opportunity for improving the air quality in cities like Santiago. This is a highly effective technology, especially because it adapts to the diesel used in Chile”, said Sabertec CEO Bill O’Brien.