Write a 4 pages paper on technical definition and description catalytic converter.

Write a 4 pages paper on technical definition and description catalytic converter. The exhaust from car engines combustion has various gases and elements, which can contribute to air pollution, Carbon Monoxide, other hydrocarbons, and Nitrogen Oxides, but Nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide, and water vapor are the main ones. Carbon Monoxide, other hydrocarbons, and Nitrogen Oxides are responsible for the pollution caused by cars, since Carbon monoxide is poisonous and can kill if it is inhaled in large amounts. Hydrocarbons result from incomplete combustion of fuel and when released into the air they form smog, which is a form of air pollution. Nitrogen oxides cause acidic rain when released to the atmosphere and the catalytic converter will reduce the amounts of these gases that are released into the atmosphere.

The catalytic converter is made out of steel it is located along the exhaust pipe, and has a porous ceramic constitution where the exhaust gases are passed through. The ceramic structure has many passages to create a large surface area for gases to pass and the passages are of different shapes. Catalysts and inorganic oxides like gamma Alumina, Ceria and Zirconia are applied on the surfaces of the porous structure where the exhaust gases will be passed for the reactions to occur at the catalytic sites (Mohiuddin, 2007).

Nowadays, most cars are equipped with three-way catalytic converters to reduce the levels of harmful gases from car exhausts. There are two parts of these converters, which perform in a similar way, but they will eradicate different pollutants.

The honeycomb is placed inside the converter to increase the surfaces area for reactions to occur and to reduce the amounts of catalysts used since they are expensive. When the exhaust from the vehicles is exposed to the catalysts, chemical reactions will occur which will convert the harmful gases into harmless compounds. Modern vehicles will undergo the conversion process through main two processes. The reduction catalyst The oxidation catalyst The reduction catalyst is the first stage of conversion where the exhaust gases go through the honeycomb, which is coated with the catalysts platinum and rhodium. At this stage, the exhaust gases that are converted to less harmful gases are the nitrogen compounds, which are broken down into nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrogen and oxygen are not harmful and thereby the catalytic converter functions to reduce the levels of nitrogen compounds, which are harmful when released to the atmosphere (Mohiuddin, 2007).