The Sunday Mail
A catalytic converter is a vehicle emissions control device that is used to convert toxic by-products of combustion (occurring in the exhaust of an internal combustion engine) to less toxic substances by performing catalysed chemical reactions. The reactions tend to vary depending upon the type of catalyst installed.
This vehicle emission control device was invented by Eugene Houdry, a French mechanical engineer involved with catalytic oil refining.
In 1973 former General Motors President Robert Stempel decided to begin their implementation in vehicles.
They are mandatory on all cars in most countries.
They are also used on some wood stoves to control emissions.
The devices work best at high temperatures.
The catalyst used in the converter is mostly a precious metal such as platinum, palladium and rhodium.
Platinum is used as a reduction catalyst and as an oxidation catalyst.
Rhodium is used as a reduction catalyst, while palladium is used as an oxidation catalyst.
Studies reveal that these devices can decrease hydrocarbon emissions by about almost 87 percent, carbon monoxide by 85 percent and nitrous oxide by 62 percent during the expected life of a vehicle.
