Reduction of pollutants from a combustion engine

Abstract

Burning of hydrocarbon fuels in a combustion engine creates pollutants that include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and various hydrocarbons. Catalytic converter which is designed to reduce such pollutants relies on precious metal catalysts like platinum. There is an ongoing need to find more effective methods of pollution control as well as cheaper alternatives to precious metals. The solution proposed in this disclosure takes advantage of electrical characteristics of exhaust gases. Some of the pollutants in the exhaust gas exhibit positive electron affinity. Such pollutants are converted to negative ions by providing extra electrons. Many of the pollutants have charge distributions which facilitate electrical interactions with the ions. They are attracted to the ions to form clusters. Pollutant clusters formed as such are separated from the rest of the exhaust gas by electric and/or magnetic forces.