Emission control

An exhaust gas trap that breaks down pollutants from diesel engines into hydrogen and carbon monoxide that can be injected back into the engine to provide a valuable fuel mixture could also reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

The technology, being developed by engineers at

and

universities, is still in its early research stage, but the team hopes to demonstrate a full working prototype in 18 months.

Environmental catalyst manufacturer

is collaborating on the project to develop a trap that will use a rhodium-based catalyst to extract essential compounds from car exhaust gas and convert them into hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

Birmingham's Athanasios Tsolakis, the project's principal investigator, said there are other research groups currently looking to reform car exhaust gas for onboard hydrogen production, but claimed his technology is simpler than other systems.

Unlike other methods, he said, his team's unique catalyst-based system does not require additional air and water (or steam) for the reforming process.