Catalytic converters are constantly being stolen from cars as they are parked. This is because of the pricey metal content of the said auto part. Since the main task of the catalytic converter is to convert the many harmful gases in the exhaust emissions into less harmful ones, cars that have their catalytic converters stolen considerably contribute to air pollution.

According to the police, the ADESA Auto Auction at Highway 33 and Interstate 90-94 were hit over the weekend by thieves that stole a number of catalytic converters from vehicles that are supposed to be part of the auction. This is confirmed by the director of the auction Tom Francois. In his words, “[i]t’s happening all over the place, in Madison too.” Detectives in Madison are doing their best to track the thieves down.

A reporter from the car-fleet industry has already given his opinion regarding the matter. The precious metals found in the catalytic converter’s composition are the primary reason why car fleets are becoming the target for catcon theft. He said that “a thief can slip under a vehicle and, with a battery-operated saw and metal-cutting blade, make two quick cuts and remove the catalytic converter.” On a sadder note, replacing the catcon is expensive, which is why most of the vehicles that have their catalytic converters stolen don’t get to replace them in an instant.

Catalytic Converters are some of the top target auto parts of car thieves. Manufacturers use semi-precious metals, such as copper and platinum, for these pro-environment parts, thus making catalytic converters more valuable to sell. Recently, the Japanese automaker Mazda has announced that it has developed cheaper yet quality catalytic converters that could very well put a stop into catcon thieves.

Among the semi-precious materials of the present catalytic converters, the platinum has a bigger value. In fact, an ounce of this metal can already amount to as much as a thousand dollars. The Mazda Catalytic Converter, however, will use lesser platinum. With that, the catalytic converters, which car thieves are fond of, will no longer be that valuable. Moreover, owners with defective catcons will no longer have to spend much for replacements because the price of these new converters will cost less.

Thieves now might veer away from the Mazda Catalytic Converter because it will not have that much money value in it, but it will surely keep those noxious gases at a safer level.

Mazda owners and other motorists will still have to wait before these catcons are out in market.

The man who set in motion the development of cleaner car exhaust emissions was recently recognized for his pioneering research on surface chemistry.

German physicist Gerhard Ertl established the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide over palladium, a complex chemical reaction that occurs in the catalyst of cars for cleaner exhaust gas emissions. He found that carbon monoxide, a harmful gas generated by engines of vehicles can be converted into less toxic carbon dioxide by collisions in the air with oxygen molecules. Hence, this led to the creation of the catalytic converter, which now comes as standard equipment on every car around the world.

Ertl was awarded the 2007 Nobel Prize in Chemistry last October 10 for his research that unraveled the mysteries behind the pollution’s role in the thinning ozone layer.

The award recognized Ertl’s meticulous description on how chemical reactions occur on solid surfaces. “Surface chemistry can even explain the destruction of the ozone layer, as vital steps in the reaction actually take place on the surfaces of small crystals of ice in the stratosphere,” according to the award citation.

In an interview with Nobelprize.org after the announcement of awardees, Ertl explained the short-term benefits of his studies on surface chemistry. “The work that we were doing was related to heterogeneous catalysis and this is a topic which is of great industrial importance, but also of environmental importance,” Ertl said. “Think of the car exhaust catalyst, or of all these industrial processes. So, as soon as you understand something better then you can also think of improving it. I think that’s the main message you can learn from it.”

Ertl, according to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, built the foundation of modern surface chemistry. One of the most groundbreaking discoveries he made was the role of catalytic converters in clean emissions. The other areas his studies explored on were: the development of cleaner sources of energy, how fuel cells create energy without causing pollution, and why iron undergoes corrosion, CNN reported.

The so-called “ozone layer scientist” won the award on his 71^st birthday. Despite his huge contributions to science, the Nobel Prize awardee has nothing much to say. “I am speechless. I was not counting on this,” Ertl said in an interview with The Associated Press from his office in Berlin.

Ertl currently teaches at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society in Berlin, where he is an emeritus professor. Born in Bad Cannstadt, Germany, Ertl earned his doctorate degree in physical chemistry from Technische Universität München in 1965.

Sources: CNN, Nobelprize.org, Science Daily, Thestar.com

The latest car from Mercedes Benz is definitely a good look at what will fill the streets in the future. With its hi-tech features that aim towards environment friendliness, this F-700 S-Class wonder is definitely one hell of a ride.

While it is tagged as a “research car”, production of this car will be in demand. After all, it does not only boast of the revolutionary Pre-Scan technology by Mercedes, but also its three-way catalytic converter. Why? Because this car can notably control its emissions. The DiesOtto, while a very powerful engine, it still needs an assurance that its carbons will not double during the combustion process. Hence, its Mercedes-Benz catalytic converter will take care of the rest.

The Pre-Scan technology is another innovative concept by Mercedes. It works through the Pre-Scan sensors that are strategically placed on the headlights so that they can be the “eyes” of the car. They will detect any lump, bump, or hump along the road, and they will pass this information to the car computer. The control unit then will come up with a plan in translating the hydraulics into a more accurate fluid flow for each wheel.

Of course, all these features are all the more enhanced by the exterior and interior beauty of the car. The F700 looks astonishing on the outside, with its unique contours and shiny polished coating. On the inside, it is a totally different story. The interiors are all floral-patterned and the leg room is unbelievable. This is definitely one car that is headed towards where the auto industry will go.

Catalytic converter theft is not the only thing that should be watched out for, motorists should also be careful about a hot catalytic converter for this may cause fire once the car is parked in a grassy area.

Just recently, it was reported that a body was found in a burning car in Shawnee County. Later on, it was confirmed that it was Olympic gold medalist Bob Owen.

Officials said that Owen died from heart attack, smoke inhalation and thermal burns. The State Fire Marshall’s office also said, “Owen’s car had been parked running in a field for an extensive period of time.” The reason why Owen was on the area remains unknown to officials.

Investigators later said that the fire may have been accidental and the possible cause may have been the vehicle’s hot catalytic converter coming into contact with the dry grass.

Owen was a former member of the United States hockey team that won a gold medal in the 1960 Winter Olympics. He also taught at Washburn University from 1970 until 1980.

An incident such as this only tells motorists to be extra careful and should be well-informed on the hazards that a catalytic converter brings.

This story is based on the report done by KWCH, a Kansas local news channel.

The side mirrors, car stereos, and even emblems are out of the car thieves’ vocabulary as the catalytic converters are gaining a lot of followers in this illegal job.

Across the United States, there have been numerous theft incidents that are geared toward catalytic converters. The question haunting vehicle owners, dealerships, and car shops is: what are the factors pushing these sneaky hands into these pro-environment exhaust parts? Aside from probable huge revenues when these catalytic converters are sold in bulk, these special auto parts carry semi-precious metals inside them. For starters, catalytic converters are designed and manufactured with platinum and copper, which are semi-precious metals. Take note that an ounce of platinum already cost about more than a thousand dollars. The copper, on the other hand, now costs almost $4, which is to date the ceiling high price of this metal per pound.

For these statistics, no wonder catalytic converters theft is very prevalent nowadays. These scoundrels are that knowledgeable of the non-environmental benefits of these auto parts. Automakers, however, cannot just remove this part in the exhaust systems of their vehicles because catalytic converters are that helpful in preserving of what’s left in the ozone. A catalytic converter is capable of treating noxious exhaust, like carbon monoxide, before it goes out into the air. As an indispensable exhaust part, several automobile manufacturers are now considering to use the non-valuable metal called palladium in catalytic converters. In this way, cat con thieves can no longer get big revenues from these parts and stop looting for good.

Following its recent groundbreaking move in catalytic converter technology, Mazda is now on its way of cutting the price of these environment-friendly automobile devices.

Mazda aims to save buyers from the ever-increasing prices of catalytic converters without affecting their efficiency, as well as the vehicles’ emission levels.

The high cost of metal used in most catalytic converters today makes these devices prone to being stolen. In a previous post, this blog reported that the Japanese automobile company has recently developed a Mazda catalytic converter with less metal content, to lessen the rising incidence of catalytic converter theft.

Whatcar.com reported on October 2 that Mazda is set to unveil its new and efficient catalytic converter, along with its latest concept sports car, at the Tokyo motor show at the end of this month. The Japanese auto maker, however, has not announced yet when the new catalytic converter will be equipped on production vehicles.

Source: Whatcar.com

http://www.whatcar.com/news-article.aspx?NA=228354
http://www.whatcar.com/news-article.aspx?NA=228347

The Opel Corsa, one of the popular car models in the world, celebrates this year its 25 years of success in the automotive industry. Over those years, Opel has demonstrated its commitment to green technology by leading innovations in catalytic converter technology, among other “green” features.

Just recently, Opel has announced the details of the much-anticipated addition to the Corsa family—the 2008 Opel Corsa GSi. Opel is one of General Motor’s automotive brands.

According to a September 27 press release from General Motors, the new Corsa model has “more substance than show.” True enough, the Corsa GSi has a 1.6-liter turbo engine that gives optimum performance coupled with fuel economy and environmental protection. Such a powerful engine gives the GSi its powerful performance.

The GSi is also designed to comply with the regulation set by the Euro 5 emissions standard, thanks to its three-way Opel catalytic converter. The main catalytic converter is supported by a preconverter mounted just at the back of the turbine outlet. This setup enhances the fast reaction of the exhaust emission control. The environment-friendliness of the Opel car is completed by the new hybrid technology engine control unit included in it.

In 1985, the Opel Corsa 1.3i is the first car of its kind to have a closed-loop, three-way catalytic converter included in the standard emission control. The three-way catalytic converter helps lessen three emissions: hydrocarbons or volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide.

In 1989, Opel was the first European auto maker to install catalytic converters as standard device in all of its vehicles. Opel was also the first to have a recycling chain for plastic. It also initiated the move to lessen the amount of dangerous substances such as asbestos and cadmium used during the manufacturing process of the vehicle.

1994 saw another innovation in catalytic converter technology—the catcon made of heavy-duty metal for effective control of vehicle emissions. This Opel catalytic converter was first used that year by the Opel Corsa B GSi 16 V model.

Source: General Motors press release