Johnson Matthey is among the final contenders for the annual MacRobert award which recognises technological and engineering innovation.

Engineers at the firm have designed a compact soot filter for diesel cars that improves the efficiency of filters inside the lower temperature exhaust.

The design takes heat from the car's engine to control hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and soot emissions.

Dr Martyn Twigg from the firm said that over 1.5 million of the filters were already exported for use in European cars ahead of new emissions legislation which comes into force in 2009.

"These alone will stop millions of kilograms of soot entering the atmosphere over the life of these vehicles," he explained.

Johnson Matthey won the award in 2000 for a diesel emission control system known as the Continuously Regenerating Trap (CRT).

The system, which was embedded in trucks and buses, helped to control emissions in diesel engines.

Johnson Matthey was also recognised in 1980 when it received the award for its catalytic converter technology in passenger cars.

Source:

Frigid robot eyes top tech prize, 12/05/08
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7396317.stm