Catalytic decomposition of sterol glycosides in a diesel fuel filter

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fuel filter (1) for filtering diesel fuel supplied to an internal combustion engine (2). The fuel filter (1) includes a filter element (12, 19) for trapping and decomposing precipitates suspended in the diesel fuel. An solid acid catalyst like a zeolite is provided for decomposing precipitates trapped by the filter element (12, 19). Sterol glycosides (precipitates) are splitted into sterol and glycoside moieties, which are soluble in the biodiesel, thus preventing clogging of the filter by sterol glycoside agglomerates. The sterol and glycoside moieties pass to the engine where they are burnt. The present disclosure also relates to a method of filtering diesel fuel for supply to an internal combustion engine (2).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.