Engelhard Technology Cleans Up Diesel Buses in Stamford

ISELIN, N.J.--Feb. 28, 2002--CTTransit buses in Stamford, CT, are running much cleaner thanks to Engelhard Corporation's DPX(TM) catalytic particulate filters and ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. The buses' emissions of particulate matter, or soot, are reduced by more than 90%.
    "You will see no black smoke from the tail pipes of these buses. In fact, if you held a white handkerchief over the tailpipe for five minutes it would stay as clean as new," said Steve Warren, assistant general manager for maintenance at CTTransit.
    CTTransit is owned by the Connecticut Department of Transportation and operates in the greater Hartford, New Haven and Stamford areas. The Department has long been a leader in implementing environmental technology. The current program involves installing DPX filters on 31 of the 50 buses running in Stamford. CTTransit plans to expand its use of the filters and ultra-low sulfur fuel to other areas as funding becomes available.
    The DPX filters are designed to reduce emissions of particulate matter (PM). The filters first trap particulates and then use a patented catalytic technology to continuously burn them at normal diesel operating exhaust temperatures. In addition to reducing particulate matter, DPX filters typically reduce carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions by more than 80 %. The filters can operate with normal diesel fuel, but their effectiveness is enhanced when combined with low-sulfur fuel, as in Stamford.
    "DPX filters are in use today on thousands of on- and off-road vehicles around the world," said Denise Viola, general manager of emissions and performance systems at Engelhard. "They provide a cost-effective way to clean-up diesel emissions and comply with new, more stringent regulations coming into effect."
    According to Warren, with regard to PM, CO and HC emissions the Stamford buses are virtually as clean as compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and at a fraction of the cost. He said, "The equipment cost is lower than that for a CNG bus, plus you don't need any special fueling infrastructure like you do for CNG."
    The DPX filters are designed for easy installation and maintenance. They can be applied to a broad range of applications, including heavy-duty trucks and buses, mining and construction equipment, stand-by power generators, and forklifts and other materials handling equipment.
    Engelhard Corporation is a surface and materials science company that develops technologies to improve customers' products and processes. A Fortune 500 company, Engelhard is a world-leading provider of technologies for environmental, process, appearance and performance applications. For more information, visit Engelhard at www.engelhard.com.

&