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For years, catalytic converters have been used for
their pollution abatement potential. They were first introduced
in the USA and since 1981 all cars and light duty trucks sold in
the US must include catalytic converters as standard equipment.
Not just the US, 85% of cars sold worldwide are now fitted with
three way catalytic converters.
In fact, the average family car in the US would
emit 15 tons of toxic and harmful polluting gases (carbon monoxide,
hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides), over a 10-year life, if catalytic
converters were not fitted to all new cars to remove up to 98%
of pollution as required by current regulations.
Catalytic converters are also an efficient means
of reducing pollution from diesel engines. Catalytic converters
for diesel vehicles have shown to demonstrably lower not only particulate
matter but also carbon monoxide and NOx emissions.
As exhaust passes through the device, the catalytic
converter changes hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides
into water, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. A catalytic converter
works by using a ceramic or metal honeycomb structure of thousands
of tubes coated with a combination of platinum, rhodium and/or
palladium. This exposes the maximum surface - a combined area about
the size of a football pitch - of a catalyst to the exhaust stream,
while also minimizing the amount of catalyst required. more
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