Several kinds of diesel soot filters and filter materials of high melting points with eleven different catalytic coatings were prepared. They were calcined at a maximum temperature of 1000-degrees-C. The reaction rate and the kinetic parameters of the combustion of diesel soot were determined in a closed loop laboratory reactor. A packed bed of alumina particulates was the most active filter in soot combustion. Catalytic coatings with oxides of vanadium, copper or cerium accelerated the reaction. In each case the effect of the coating was dependent on specific interactions between the catalyst and the filter material. The manner of filtration and the nature of the soot filter are found to be more important for the overall result than the nature of the catalytic coating.