Methods and systems for reducing or eliminating the production of pollutants during combustion of carbon-containing fuels

A method for increasing combustion efficiency during operation of a diesel engine comprising:

• producing exhaust gases through combustion of diesel fuel by a diesel engine, said exhaust gases containing water;
• generating a degrading atmosphere by interacting said exhaust gases and water contained therein with at least one of silica or alumina and then allowing said exhaust gases that have interacted with said at least one of silica or alumina to pass through an outlet into the atmosphere for as long as said diesel engine continues to run;
• and
• causing or allowing at least a portion of said degrading atmosphere to migrate to at or near where said combustion occurs in order to thereby increase combustion efficiency of said diesel fuel and at least partially eliminate at least a portion of at least one combustion product of said diesel fuel selected from the group consisting of carbon-containing particulates, soot, hydrocarbons, oily substances, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.

A system for increasing combustion efficiency during operation of a diesel engine, comprising:

• a diesel engine that produces exhaust gases through combustion of diesel fuel;
• a reaction chamber;
• at least one of alumina or silica particles contained within said reaction chamber;
• an exhaust conduit interconnecting said diesel engine and said reaction chamber and configured so as to ensure that at least a portion of the exhaust gases produced by said diesel engine are introduced into said reaction chamber for as long as said diesel engine continues to run;
• and
• an outlet in communication with said reaction chamber and configured so as to ensure that the exhaust gases introduced into said reaction chamber are allowed to exit the reaction chamber into the atmosphere for as long as said diesel engine continues to run,
• wherein a degrading atmosphere is generated by interacting said exhaust gases with said at least one of silica or alumina for as long as said diesel engine continues to run, and
• wherein at least a portion of said degrading atmosphere migrates to one or more cylinders of said diesel engine in order to thereby increase combustion efficiency of said diesel fuel within said one or more cylinders by at least partially eliminating at least a portion of at least one combustion product of the carbon-containing fuel selected from the group consisting of carbon-containing particulates, soot, hydrocarbons, oily substances, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.