Catalytic converters contain metals such as platinum and rhodium, which reach high prices on the black market. Why do catalytic converters become an endangered species? Because they contain three valuable metals: platinum, palladium and rhodium, which makes them worth hundreds, even thousands of dollars, stolen or not. That's what rhodium thieves are looking for. It's very rare, very expensive and has some strange properties.
Could there be a better time for a dreaded chemistry lesson from hell? I don't think so. The catalyst component of a catalytic converter is usually platinum (Pt), together with palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh). To avoid significant financial losses, companies must quickly and accurately determine the Pt, Pd and Rh content in spent catalytic converters at the collector site or in refineries. My brother has some catalytic converters that he intends to recycle, but he's not sure about the procedure.
With numerous applications and limited supply, these valuable metals are an attractive target for the recovery and reuse of spent catalytic converters. These three platinum group metals, or PGM, are extremely rare, but they have a wide range of applications in addition to catalytic converters. The most valuable metal in a converter is (by far) rhodium; it is also the most valuable metal in the world. The aftermarket value of catalytic converters comes from the minuscule quantities of precious metals they contain, which can be extracted from used parts.
The most common metals, such as iron, aluminum or copper, are more chemically reactive and would rapidly oxidize (and decompose) under the conditions necessary to purify gasoline exhaust gases, at a temperature of approximately 600°F. Determination of PGM recovery value in a converter Catalytic begins with knowing the composition and proportions of the metals used. You can boil any of the metals in nitric acid (practically nothing on earth will survive this) and they sit there laughing. They contain a honeycomb coated with precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium, which help reduce and filter harmful gases from vehicle exhaust systems.
Catalytic converter thefts have increased in lockdown amid a rise in the value of precious metals, research shows. I want to be consulted for the recovery of PGM and other precious metals from refractory recycled materials and from PGM-rich concentrates recycled from automotive catalytic converters. Difficulties in extracting rhodium and other precious metals from South African mines increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the government ordered them to operate at 50 percent capacity, according to Reuters. With the increasing rarity of precious metals, as well as the high cost, scientists are studying the possibility of replacing rhodium and palladium with catalytic converters, New Age Metals reported.
