A catalyzed Diesel soot filter and process. The Diesel soot filter
incorporates a porous filter element coated with a catalytic agent so
that Diesel soot from Diesel exhaust gas is deposited into contact with
the catalytic agent when Diesel exhaust gas is passed through the porous
filter element and so that the ignition temperature or oxidation
temperature of the deposited Diesel soot is reduced. The catalytic agent
is a mixture of alkali metal and cerium oxides. The mole ratio of alkali
metal to cerium of the catalytic agent is in the range of from 0.5 to 5.