Since the EPA started to regulate the emission coming from the exhaust systems of cars, majority of the car companies have incorporated the use of catalytic converters into its car’s engines. This equipment has helped in greatly reducing the toxic materials in the engine before releasing it out of the system. However, production of the catalytic converters requires the use of metals like platinum, rhodium and palladium, making it quite pricey to produce. But thanks to a discovery by Mazda, cost production of this car part could decrease in the near future.

Through the use of nanotechnology, Mazda has been able to develop catalytic converters by using fewer metals. Instead of using your regular metals like platinum, rhodium and palladium, Mazda made use of nanoparticles to cover the surface area of its catalytic converter. This shift in materials will greatly reduce the use of metals and help in cutting production costs of this automotive part. Aside from reducing cost, the use of nanoparticles could benefit people’s health. According to a study done in the US, the metallic properties of the catalytic converters contribute to the increase of allergies and asthma in the country.

Initially, Mazda was skeptical about using nanoparticles since the heat generated by the exhaust could cause these particles to collect and bundle together in masses on the ceramic bead surface. Once this happens, the surface area of the catalytic converter is reduced and can affect its performance. But Mazda claims to have been able to work through this problem by embedding the nanoparticles in a fixed position on the ceramic surface. How they were able to make it work though is something Mazda is tight-lipped about.

Incidentally, Mazda’s findings coincided with Nissan’s announcement where they claimed to have developed the same type of technology for their catalytic converters. One has to wonder whether Mazda announced its technological advancement just to keep up with their competitors. Nonetheless, if this type of production materializes, it would mean less consumption of metals and healthier living for us.

Sources: Nano Science Works, Physics Today

*catalytic converter: a converter that uses a platinum-iridium catalyst to oxidize pollutants and carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide and water; an anti-pollution device on an automotive exhaust sytem

More and more companies having some connections with automobiles are looking toward more environment-friendly vehicles where emissions are dramatically reduced. The people who are in charge of researching at Daimler AG are delving into the matter of continuous improvement of combustion, exhaust gas aftertreatment, and fuel injection. This research’s aims will be done with a high-level simulation technology.

One of the aims is to help in lessening fuel consumption even more. Simultaneously, the reduction of fuel consumption will take effect while meeting the terms of the rigorous emission cutoff point. This limit continues to increase. Simulations have already been undergoing for a couple of years now. The design of the exhaust gas units and the optimization of the said units had been going through said simulations. The correlation between the simulation and the measurement is what made BLUETEC possible. Not just BLUETEC but the modern exhaust gas aftertreatment is also made possible by the connection between the simulation and measurement.

Engine optimization measures entails cutting down oxide levels. The intelligent exhaust gas aftertreatment system which would operate with no added service fluids and which would trim down additional emissions would help develop the concept of more environment-friendly vehicles. The plan would be that, as a standard, filters and catalytic converters would come together. To be taken note of is how each component would interrelate with each other. For instance, the engine will be notified by the exhaust system when the particulate filter is already filled. When this takes place, the engine ought to respond appropriately.

“Daimler AG’s researchers take these complicated interactions into ac-count in their simulations. They are on the one hand developing models for individual components such as the three-way catalytic converter, oxidation, SCR and NOx storage catalytic converters, and the particulate filter. These models are founded on physical and chemical processes.”

The research and developments for engine optimization continues, which will be a great contribution in helping keeping the environment safe and protected.

source: finchannel.com

*definition taken from here.

Stealing catalytic converters must be some sort of an in-thing to do nowadays. It seems that there have been a number of cases involving this type of theft happening over the past few months. Take for example the two cases below.

The first case happened in San Diego when the La Mesa police were able to arrest two people who are allegedly involved in a number of catalytic converter thefts from cars and trucks. The two individuals, male and female, were arrested on Friday in La Mesa after the police officers found a heavy-duty cutting tool and one catalytic converter with them. The two arrested individuals are David Franklin Taylor a 32-year old native of San Diego and Janette Sue Rosales, 21 years old. Charges of attempted grand theft, felony vandalism, conspiracy and violation of parole were charged to Taylor while the charges of attempted grand theft, felony vandalism and conspiracy were charged to Rosales. According to La Mesa police officials, there have been about 20 cases over the past few months involving the stealing of catalytic converters in their area.

Another similar case involves two male individuals from Pikeville. Chris Parsons and David Parsons pleaded guilty to catalytic converter thefts believed by police officials to have been done in Pike and Floyd countries. The two were arrested last October after a Pikeville police officer spotted their car in Pikeville Medical Center’s parking lot. During their check, the police officers were able to find five catalytic converters and tools used to remove the said car part. As a result of their admission to the crime, David Parson will be required to spend a minimum of 10 years before he can be paroled. Chris Parson will have to serve at least 20% his sentence before being paroled.

That will make them think twice before they decide to pull a stunt like that. Well, we hope that they do end up thinking twice.

Sources: 10 News, Wsaz