Environmental: The Various Contributions Of The Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) To Improving Our Environment Are Great. Their chemical and catalytic qualities are central to a number of applications that greatly reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases, while soon offering us nearly limitless energy production. Their physical properties of durability and strength mean that products are more reliable and longer-lasting, thus cutting down on waste. On top of this, PGMs are highly recyclable with over 96% of the metals recoverable in the recycling process. There is a role for the Platinum Group Metals PGMs in specific EU policy areas such as Clean Air for Europe (CAFÉ) and other Clean Air programmes.
§ The platinum industry watches with interest programmes such as CAFE which seek to strengthen standards for emissions such as particulates and to improve air quality. This is a key area where Platinum Group Metals PGMs make a significant contribution. The range of research programmes and research studies being carried out by the groups working on these activities are valuable especially as they are working in cooperation with industry and propose practical standards in the future. The platinum group metals PGMs will play a key role in helping to create the technology and devices that deliver the reductions in emissions and particulates required to make our air healthy.
§ As regulations on automotive emissions get tougher, platinum group metals PGMs will continue to play a vital role in the new developments required of catalyst technology for petrol engines. The catalytic converters for petrol engines all contain a combination of platinum, rhodium and/or palladium.
§ Since their introduction in the 1970s, catalytic converters, such as the one we supplied to us from our Member Johnson Matthey, have made an enormous
contribution to air quality in Europe and around the world.
§ Catalytic converters fitted into the exhaust of gasoline-operated cars convert over 95% of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen from the engine into less harmful carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water vapour.
§ The platinum group metals industry has risen to the challenge over the last 3 decades in providing these precious metals in the quantities needed, at
affordable cost. It will also rise to the challenge presented by diesels.
§ Diesel engines power more than 35% of new cars sold in Europe. In Austria, Belgium, France, Luxembourg and Spain the penetration of diesel cars already exceeds 50% and over 500,000 cars with particulate traps have been
sold in Europe by Peugeot, Citroën, Renault, Toyota, Mazda and, soon, by Mercedes.
§ The so-called particulate traps, also known as particulate filters, which are fitted onto diesel cars supplement catalytic converters by “trapping” the particulates (tiny bits of unburned or partially burned fuel) that emanate from the engine. Platinum constitutes a key component of these traps and has the required durability and heat resistance to remove over 99% of these particulates.
Catalytic Converters:
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.
How do catalytic converters work?
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. Catalytic converters work with unleaded gasoline and diesel. Leaded gasoline, however, "poisons" the catalyst with a lead coating that prevents it coming into contact with pollutants.
By how much do they reduce pollution?
By most estimates, catalytic converters fitted inside the exhaust pipe of a gasoline-operated car convert up to 90 % of hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the engine into less harmful carbon dioxide (CO2),
nitrogen and water vapour. Diesel engines, in addition, emit particulates. The use of a particulate trap, in conjunction with a catalyst, can reduce their mass by 90%
and reduce the number of ultra-fine particles by 99%.
http://www.aecc.be/
Air Purification Panels - Palladium's ability to catalyse carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide is employed by air purification panels to provide cleaner air in devices such as air conditioning systems, especially in enclosed environments such as aircraft.
Aircraft Turbine Blades - Today, research and development efforts are looking at
the ways in which ruthenium's incredibly high melting point, temperature stability,
corrosion resistance and hardness can be used in aircraft turbine blades. Adding ruthenium to turbine blades means higher temperatures which mean more
efficient burning of fuel, reducing its consumption and the emission of CO2.
Electronic Components
Being good conductors, ductile when annealed and oxidation resistant with high temperature stability, platinum, palladium and ruthenium provide an alternative and more effective plating to gold on connectors and circuit boards.
The improved durability and reliability which these metals provide reduces the need for replacement and disposal. Eersteling Gold Mine applied for its Section 9
permanent mining permission and this was granted during April 2003, its situated within trucking distance less than 20 miles from the Rooiport Platinum Project and
the mill, infrastructure and the Mine can be fitted for the Rooiport Platinum Ore.
Edited by Guru Dudette, 21 November 2003 - 03:35 PM.
