American-based company Catalytica Energy Systems Incorporated (CESI) has announced it has successfully completed its initial testing of new diesel fuel processor technology (DFP).

The testing, which has been designed to validate the previously reported sub-scale regeneration capabilities of the Company's DFP technology, has been conducted with an undisclosed heavy-duty diesel (HDD) engine manufacturer.

According to CESI the test results underlined the DFP's demonstrated efficient, rapid nitrous oxide (Nox) absorber regeneration over a variety of operating conditions.

The Catalytica diesel fuel processors are being developed as a potential technology to help meet the 2007 emission standards for truck and bus engines, aiming to provide a 90 per cent reduction in nitrous oxide emissions.

However, nitrous oxide absorber/catalysts - the preferred technology by the US EPA for meeting this standard - still require significant improvements before they become commercially viable.

Work is now underway on a DFP in conjunction with a CESI lean NOx catalyst, that will provide up to 50 per cent NOx reductions in retrofit applications.