Dust Collector FAQs: How effective are catalytic converters at filtering particulate matter?

Catalytic converters reduce, among other things, the so-called organic particles that make up soot and tar. They contribute to the formation of less fine dust, but retain fewer particles than electrostatic precipitators. Their main task is therefore not to remove particles from the exhaust gas, but to remove other toxic substances. As a side effect, some particles are still retained by the catalytic converter. The disadvantage of this is that these substances remain in the catalytic converter, reduce its activity and can lead to blockage of the exhaust pipe. In addition, catalytic converters lose their activity over time. The owner’s manual will tell you when to replace the old catalytic converter with a new one. For safety reasons, these maintenance intervals should be strictly adhered to, otherwise the chimney may become blocked.