Discuss briefly the following: Catalytic converters
Catalytic converters: Catalytic converters, having expensive metals namely platinum-palladium and rhodium as catalysts, are fitted into automobiles for reducing the emission of harmful gases. As the exhaust passes through the catalytic converter, unburnt hydrocarbons are converted into carbon dioxide and water, and carbon monoxide and nitric oxide are changed to carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas, respectively. Motor vehicles equipped with catalytic converters should use unleaded petrol because leaded petrol inactivates the catalyst. It has been established that the installation of catalytic converters can slash carbon monoxide emissions from 90 grams to 3.4 grams per mile run. So if half the vehicles on Delhi and Mumbai roads are made to install such catalytic converters, then total CO emission in India can be reduced by 70 percent.
