The harm that cars, which make our lives simpler, cause to people and the environment is evident. Exhaust gasses seriously harm both the environment and human health. It pollutes the atmosphere. Since they were introduced some 45 years ago, catalytic converters have mainly prevented harmful gases from entering the atmosphere.
The platinum group of metals transform airborne carbon monoxide gas (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into less hazardous carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor in catalytic converters attached to the exhaust output pipe of vehicles. Platinum group metals from the platinum family are used as catalysts in catalytic converters, including platinum, palladium, and rhodium.
It explains how platinum and palladium hydrocarbons break down into carbon dioxide and water vapor. Nitrogen and carbon dioxide are created when rhodium reacts with nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide.
According to the graph’s representation of the data from 2013, the automobile industry accounts for significantly more than half of all platinum group metal usage worldwide. The use of platinum group metals is expanding due to the global vehicle stock. Additionally, the rise in the quantity of scrap cars and the fact that every scrap car had a catalytic converter led to the development of recycling and recovery procedures.
Because catalytic converters are made of precious metals, they have a market value. This amount is significantly larger when compared to the total amount of precious metals used in catalytic converters in automobiles that have been discarded since 1975. They must be recycled, though, for reasons of economics, commerce, and the environment.
Recycling one catalytic converter, which weighs about 1.5 kg, can provide the same amount of precious metal as processing roughly 360 kg of ore and rock from nature. Because it is feasible to create more while consuming less and polluting less, recycling costs are lower than ore production costs, and environmental awareness might rise as a result.
Recycling solutions for used catalytic converters are quite profitable.
The facility pays for itself in a relatively brief period of time, and the invested funds are recovered quickly. Having a recycling facility for catalytic converters is a fantastic potential for investors.
Due to the presence of precious metals, catalytic converters are valuable economically. They are primarily offered as the most expensive scrap because of this. because it contains some of the most priceless metals, including platinum, palladium, and rhodium. When Pt, Pd, and Rh are retrieved from the scrap catalytic converter, they can be exchanged for more money.
As can be seen from the table, the value of platinum metal is rising over time. As can be seen in the table for the past 20 years, its economic value remained constant. That implies that the value of platinum is increasing every day. The current price of platinum per gram is about $31.
Considering the volatility of the palladium value, even though there was a temporary decline, it did not result in a significant overall decline. It remains valuable, and its economic worth keeps rising. The current price of palladium per gram is about $72.
Even while the price of rhodium has largely been consistent over the past ten years, it has climbed dramatically over the past two years. Rhodium currently costs roughly $287 per gram.
Even though the amounts differ by model, a single typical catalytic converter only comprises 37 grams of platinum, 27 grams of palladium, and 1-2 grams of rhodium on average. When tons of scrap catalytic converters are collected, that offers significant gains.
As the Proses Makina Company, we offer to our clients all precious metals recovered from trash catalytic converters for financial gain using our high-performance, cutting-edge equipment. The flowchart for our method is provided below.
Recycling is important, but it’s even more crucial to follow the right procedures, utilize the right equipment, have high-quality systems, and have a reliable workforce. During the process, there will also be waste gas and acid, but they won’t be a problem because at Proses Makina Company, we already have a solution. All you have to consider is how profitable and simple a catalytic converter recycling system will be to amortize. Observe, be informed, invest, and generate income.
Safiye Tanrverdi works for the Proses Makina Company as a metallurgical and material engineer and project engineer for recycling and refining systems. Her email address is [email protected].
In This Article...
What is the cost of a Toyota catalytic converter?
When sold as scrap, Toyota catalytic converters can fetch between $75 and $700. Depending on the brand and model of the car, a catalytic converter’s price can change. The Toyota Prius has some of the most expensive catalytic converters.
What platinum content does each catalytic converter have?
1. The catalyst price varies depending on the initial target market for which a particular vehicle was built. European markets receive catalysts of a higher caliber than markets in developing nations.
2. Better catalytic converters are a given with vehicles of a higher class.
3. Precious metals become less valuable as an automobile ages.
4. Driving vigorously speeds up the “emptying” of the catalytic converter.
5. Fuel. Metals from catalysts are dissolved by some gasoline additives.
6. There are catalysts with various precious metal compositions:
The “classic” and oldest type of catalytic converter is Pt, Pd + Rh. Pt has an average amount of 1470ppm per ceramic ton, Pd 900ppm, and Rh 270ppm. It is currently considered a “endangered species.”
Platinum is in the range of 25003500 ppm, however palladium is absent from these catalysts. These catalysts are priced between 65 and 75 euros per kilogram.
6.3 Pd + Rh – Platinum is missing, although there are 30003500 ppm of palladium. About 70% of all current catalytic converters are made up of such catalysts.
We can infer from the foregoing that analysis is required in order to calculate the price of a catalyst.
Experts are familiar with the brands and even the specific models of catalytic converters, which have the highest concentration of valuable metals. Palladium is used in gasoline vehicles, while platinum is used in diesel vehicles. Palladium content is higher in hybrid cars than in traditional cars.
This is because more metal is needed to absorb more hazardous pollutants in hybrids because they do not have time to warm up the catalyst, which would boost its efficiency.
Instead of selling catalysts as replacement components, the majority of auto owners simply sell them for precious metals. One catalyst can include a “honeycomb” of up to 1.52 grams of palladium. Given that certain high-end vehicles employ dual catalysts, the revenue from a single vehicle can be substantial.
For instance, a catalyst weighing 1200 grams from a renowned German manufacturer contains platinum (0.12 percent by weight), palladium (0.08 percent by weight), and rhodium (0.008 percent by weight).
The issue is that this alloy’s palladium still needs to be segregated in some way. Working with single instances serves no use at all because there are numerous, expensive, and complex methods available.
The biggest automakers are currently attempting to accumulate catalyst palladium for future use since the price is anticipated to increase. However, this expansion cannot go on forever. It will continue to function for as long as using platinum instead of another metal is more cost-effective and efficient. It already costs more than halve what palladium does.
How much platinum, in weight, is there in a catalytic converter?
Rhodium, platinum, and palladium are among the platinum group of metals that make up a catalytic converter. Typically, 0.1 to 0.3 ounces (3 to 7 grams) of platinum are found in catalytic converters.
How much precious metal is in a catalytic converter from a Toyota?
As the prices of the precious metals they contain continue to soar, catalytic converter thefts have been on the rise over the past few years and don’t appear to be slowing down. The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that from 2019 to 2020, catalytic converter thefts increased by an astounding 325 percent. The pricing of the preceding metals required for a catalytic converter’s operation and the situation of the world’s supply networks can both be significant factors.
The exhaust system contains catalytic converters, which are muffler-shaped components that eliminate dangerous particles from engine emissions. The precious metals that are coated on the inside of a catalytic converter’s honeycomb structure serve as a catalyst to break down the harmful pollutants and transform them into less damaging emissions. (This video demonstrates how everything operates.) The catalyst process inside a catalytic converter transforms toxic gases such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide that are released by engines into less damaging compounds such as water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen.
Modern catalytic converters normally have two stages: the reduction catalyst in the first stage removes nitrogen oxide, and the oxidation catalyst in the second stage removes carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons. Typically, these stages are supported by ceramic honeycomb catalyst structures and cerium catalyst structures, and they are coated with the pricey precious metals that burglars are after.
The price rises for platinum and palladium were less pronounced, but spot prices are still higher than those of 2019, and the price of palladium approximately doubled from the start of 2019 to the end of 2020. Palladium prices have somewhat stabilized, but they are still higher today than they were at the beginning of the year by more than 30%. The COVID-19 pandemic has an effect on the supply of these valuable metals, and the state of the economy has driven up the price of metals generally, leading to price spikes and rising demand for used catalytic converters that can be disassembled to extract these precious metals.
The average catalytic converter includes three to seven grams of platinum, two to seven kilos of palladium, and one to two grams of rhodium, according to Waste Advantage Magazine. In June 2022, platinum will cost about $30 per gram, palladium will cost about $60 per gram, and rhodium will cost about $440 per gram. By taking those costs into consideration, we can determine that the typical catalytic converter can contain platinum worth up to $90, palladium worth up to $420, and rhodium worth up to $880. As a result, depending on the type, the average catalytic converter has a precious metal value that can range from the low hundreds to more than $1,500.
Even though a catalytic converter may include precious metals with a four-figure worth, a burglar is unlikely to find pricing like that. They frequently sell to a recycler, who then sells them to a place where the metals may be extracted. Given that they can make over $500 for some models with only a few minutes of work, thieves are likely to see less than half of that, but the job is still valuable. Because of the known contents and concentrations of precious metals in specific catalytic converters, some models are frequently targeted more frequently.
It’s not by chance that the Toyota Prius from the middle of the 2000s is frequently mentioned as a target in these thefts. The GD3 model catalytic converter, one of the most precious metal-packed converters, is found in them. At the time of writing, Ecotrade Group lists that model as a bestseller with a current market price of more than $600. The same recycling company reports that catalytic converters from the Chevy Trailblazer, which uses one that can sell for almost $400, contain equal amounts of these precious metals. Taller vehicles like the Trailblazer are frequently more vulnerable to this type of theft simply due to practicality; a thief can simply slide beneath with a battery-powered saw to chop off the exposed catalytic converter without having to jack them up. However, not all catalytic converters are created equal, as we can see from the costs for similar-era Chevrolet and Toyota catalytic converters that are much below $100. These prices are most likely based on the known amounts of precious metals for that particular model numbers.
States are attempting to stop these thefts by passing legislation that will increase the penalties for those who are discovered in possession of stolen catalytic converters and enact regulations on how they can be sold, but it’s an uphill struggle that is closely tied to those precious metal prices, and as long as they remain high, many are likely to take the risk of attempting to obtain these valuable catalytic converters.
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Why are catalytic converters for Toyotas stolen?
Toyota Prius owners might want to leave their cars in the garage tonight since, according to a new list from Carfax, these hybrid cars are the #1 target for catalytic converter theft in the West.
This week, the vehicle history company published a list of the top cars in the nation that are prime candidates for their catalytic converters. Ford F-Series pickup trucks from 1985 to 2021 and Honda Accords from 1989 to 2020 are at the top of the list nationwide, but the Toyota Prius, which was ranked No. 10 nationally as a target, is No. 1 in the West.
In order to create its lists, Carfax examined service records for new catalytic converter installations from more than 60,000 repair facilities nationwide between 2019 and the first three months of 2022.
The top vehicles in the West that catalytic converter thieves target are:
- 2001present Toyota Prius
- Ford F-Series from 1985 to 2021
- Honda Accord 19892020
- Ford Econoline 19902022
- 1999-2021 a Chevy Silverado
- Subaru Outback, 200720
- Jeep Patriot, 20072017
- Element Honda 20032011
- Forester Subaru, 1998-2020
- Toyota Tacoma, 19952021
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, catalytic converter thefts increased significantly during the epidemic, rising by more than 325 percent in a single year. Due to the rising value of the precious metals used in catalytic converters, these thefts increased, with thieves earning up to $300 for a typical catalytic converter. Due to the higher amount of precious metals used in hybrid vehicles, a catalytic converter stolen from one can fetch up to $1,400.
While waiting for their vehicles to be repaired, owners may have to spend between $1,000 and $3,000 out of pocket.
Vehicle owners should aim to park in well-lit places and be mindful of their surroundings if parking in a garage is not an option. Owners of vehicles might also think about installing an anti-theft device or having their converters laser-etched with the VIN.