Catalytic Converters Final PDF

7/31/2019 Catalytic Converters Final PDF

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Reducing CarPollution

By Christopher Lbker


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INTRODUCTION

("IB Biology/Chemistry.)


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The ProblemCar exhausts are producing harmful

greenhouse gasses, not natural to ourenvironment.

These greenhouse gasses are causingdamage to the ozone layer.

The amount of these greenhouse gassescan be reduced by an invention used in

most modern cars today: catalyticconverters.


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The Three-WayCatalytic Converter

Reduces the toxicity of car emissions,mainly:

Carbon Monoxide

Hydrocarbons

Nitrogen Compounds

It was introduced in the 1970s and has

since then become increasingly used inmodern diesel cars.

(Wright, Matthew.)


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The Science Behind

Catalytic Converters The modern catalytic converters use precious

and expensive metals which act as catalysts: Platinum & Rhodium in the first honeycomb. Platinum & palladium in the second.

The harmful reactants: Carbon Monoxide Nitrogen compounds Hydrocarbons(Unused fuel residue)

The products:

Carbon Dioxide Nitrogen Water

These products are created through anoxidising reaction(George, Samuel J).

("Deconstructed: Catalytic Converter.)


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Catalytic Converters &

Collsion Theory TemperatureThe temperatures have to be

extremely high(1300 Degrees Celsius) to overcomethe activation energy and for the particles to move

faster and therefore more collisions occur. The bonds

broken and formed also release energy and so heatup the converter to even higher temperature.

Surface area & concentrationThere are thousands

of small, square tubes which, if spread out, would

cover and entire football field. This means that there

is more surface area for the emission molecules andthe small space makes them more likely to react.

Rate of the Reaction - These factor also allow the rate

of the reaction to accelerate greatly and to the

point where one molecule passes through the

converter in 1/10 of a second.("Deconstructed: Catalytic Converter.)


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How Catalytic Converters canhelp solve Pollution

When catalytic converters are installedinto vehicles, it can significantly reduce

the toxicity of the emissions. If they were to be used in all vehicles,

then the amount of emissions would bereduced dramatically.

Ultimately, the damage has already beendone however it may be possible toreduce emissions from now on.


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The Chemical Reactions 4HC + 5O2 4CO2 + 2H2O

The Hydrocarbons only react in the second block of thecatalytic converter. The interaction with the withheldoxygen molecules at the high temperatures force new

bonds to form which then create carbon dioxide andwater.

2CO + O2 2CO2 The metals of the second block in the catalytic

converter withhold oxygen and at the extremetemperatures, the carbon monoxide forms a bond withanother oxygen molecule and becomes carbon

dioxide. 2NO N2 + O2

The Nitrogen Oxide is the first to react and does so in thefirst block of the catalytic converter. This causes thebond between nitrogen and oxygen to be released andthen the diatomic elements combine to nitrogen andoxygen.

("Deconstructed: Catalytic Converter.)


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("RideLust.)


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The Effect of CatalyticConverters in the World

Catalytic Converters are expensive and it istherefore not everyone who can afford a car withone.

Mopeds, scooters and other small vehicles haveshown to emit gasses of very high toxicity. This is one of the main reasons why highly polluted

cities in the Asian countries such as Thailand,China and India are so polluted(Reuter.).

A cheaper and perhaps more effective would be

useful because as the research shows, theproblem is actually in more densely populatedcountries and not so much in Europe.("Worldmapper: The World as You've NeverSeen It before.)


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("Worldmapper: The World as You've Never Seen It before.)


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The Effect of Catalytic Convertersand the Environment

Generally: Catalytic converters have drastically reduced the

amount of toxic emissions from cars by reducing

the amount of greenhouse gasses that areexhausted from the vehicles.

However there are still some pressing issues: Extracting the metals is also harmful to the

environment(Hudson, Travis L.). Studies have shown that a 50cc four-stroke moped

emitted three to ten times the hydrocarbons regulatedlimit and a two-stroke moped emitted ten to thirty timesthat amount.(Schramm, Jesper)

A catalytic converter needs time to warm up to itsoptimal operating temperature.("Catalytic Converters.)


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Catalytic ConvertersEconomy & Politics

The metals can cost more than 220,000 USD perkilogram("Deconstructed: Catalytic Converter.). However this only increases the price of the average car

by roughly 250 - 500 USD ("Catalytic Converters.) ("Fuelsand Society - Effect of Catalytic Converters on AutoManufacturers.)

On the other hand that puts more money incirculation and opens job opportunities and newbusinesses.

These costs mean that less developed countries

cannot afford a car and much less one with acatalytic converter.

Though these economical factors do matter, theyare worth the environmental benefits which is alsowhy countries have placed a law that requirescatalytic converters. ("Catalytic Converter Laws.)


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My Opinion on CatalyticConverters

All inventions originate from a requirementand there has been a requirement for the

reduction of car emissions in the pastcouple of decades.

However there are still obstacles toovercome with the amount of time it

takes to warm up, price and the lack ofan effect on some of the vehicles thatemit the most harmful gasses.


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Works Cited "Catalytic Converter Laws." Catalytic Converter. ImageBuilders Web Design, 2004. Web. 04

Mar. 2012. . "Catalytic Converters." NSLS Everyday Science. Web. 04 Mar. 2012.

.

"Deconstructed: Catalytic Converter." The Science Channel. Discovery Communications,LLC, 24 Oct. 2008. Web. 01 Mar. 2012.

"Exhaust Flow in an Automobile." Quick Honda's World. Web. 04 Mar. 2012..

"Fuels and Society - Effect of Catalytic Converters on Auto Manufacturers." Chemistry and

Decision Making. National Science Foundation. Web. 26 Feb. 2012. George, Samuel J. The Catalytic Converter. 2002. PDF. Hudson, Travis L., Frederick D. Fox, and Geoffrey S. Plumlee.Metal Mining and the

Environment. Alexandria, Virginia: American Geological Institute, 1999. PDF. "IB Biology/Chemistry." : IB Chemistry on Acid, Lewis Acid, Transition Metal and Ligand. Web.

04 Mar. 2012. .

Reuter. "Australian Firm Targets Asia's Polluting Scooters." Royal Society of New Zealand.Royal Society of New Zealand, 30 Aug. 1994. Web. 2 Mar. 2012.

"RideLust."Junkies Love Catalytic Converters: But How Do They Work? Web. 04 Mar. 2012..

Schramm, Jesper, Christian Knudsen, Morten Mandrupsen, and Casper Thorhauge. Emissionsfrom a Moped Fueled by Gasoline/Ethanol Mixtures. Lyngby, Denmark: Technical Unviversityof Denmark - Department of Mechanical Engineering. PDF.

"Worldmapper: The World as You've Never Seen It before." Social and Spatial Inequalities(SASI), Department of Geography , University of Sheffield. Web. 29 Feb. 2012.

Wright, Matthew. "What Exactly Is a Catalytic Converter?"About.com Auto Repair. New YorkTimes Company. Web. 01 Mar. 2012.


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Images "IB Biology/Chemistry." : IB Chemistry on Acid, Lewis

Acid, Transition Metal and Ligand. Web. 04 Mar.2012..

"RideLust."Junkies Love Catalytic Converters: ButHow Do They Work? Web. 04 Mar. 2012.. "Worldmapper: The World as You've Never Seen It

before." Social and Spatial Inequalities (SASI),Department of Geography , University of Sheffield.Web. 29 Feb. 2012.

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Catalytic Converters Final PDF