An innovative approach to manipulating the operating behavior of surface filters for dust separation by raw gas conditioning using hygroscopic salt particles is described. The basis for a targeted manipulation of the operating behavior of surface filters is the fact that a favorable performance adjusts itself at long cycle times. These are obtained by a slow increase in pressure drop during the filtration phase and by a low residual pressure drop after the regeneration. Technically, such states can be realized by so-called raw gas conditioning. The deliquescence and efflorescence properties of hygroscopic salt particles can be considered as possibilities for the formation of solid bridges between dust particles in the dust cake. With this concept, a flexible and targeted strengthening of the cohesion in the dust cake without an accompanying modification of the adhesion between the cake layer and the filter medium is theoretically possible.