This paper provides a detailed survey on hot gas filtration. Fundamental aspects of filtration at higher temperatures are described first, including the influence of the temperature on dust properties and filtration behaviour. The main focus is on the review of hot gas filter media as well as hot gas filter systems. Moreover, applications of hot gas filtration are presented and discussed in detail, for example advanced coal gasification as well as biomass gasification and pyrolysis, incineration of low-level contaminated radioactive waste from nuclear power generation, waste incineration, fluid catalytic cracking in oil refineries and other processes. By using hot gas filters, downstream equipment, such as heat exchangers, catalyst units, turbines and scrubbers, are protected from erosion and fouling, processes can be intensified or simplified as well as blocking by condensation or desublimation can be prevented. Energy efficiency, process intensification, PM 10 and PM 2.5 emission values, water shortage and water quality as well as overall process costs are topics which raise an increasing interest in hot gas filtration. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.