Her message is nonsense on a stick. The air has gotten much cleaner since the 1950’s in part because we use catalytic mufflers and lean burn technology to clean-up car and truck exhaust gas. Smoke stacke are fitted with elaborate devices to remove a significant portion of the particles from the gasses that pass through them.

Thunberg is not fond of numbers because the data proves her nonsense in wrong. CO2 emissions have been severly lessened since 1975 when the catalytic muffler was fitted to automobiles but Thunberg either willingly or out of ignorance ignores that science.

For example: a catalytic converter significantly reduces by over 53% emissions of three harmful compounds found in car exhaust:

  • Carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas)

  • Nitrogen oxides (a cause of smog and acid rain)

  • Hydrocarbons (a cause of smog)

These are converted into less harmful compounds before leaving the car’s exhaust system. This is accomplished using a catalyst, which gives the device its name. The EPA states that motor vehicle emissions have been cut by  contribute approximately 8.2% of anthropogenic nitrous oxide emissions in 2008, from a high of 17.77% in 1998. That’s a 54 % reduction but in addition the production of CO2 is beneficial to all living things.

The catalyst used in a catalytic converter is a combination of platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and rhodium (Rh). These metals coat a ceramic honeycomb (or ceramic beads) contained within a metal casing that is attached to the exhaust pipe. The catalytic converter’s honeycomb structure provides the maximum surface area on which reactions can take place while using the least amount of catalyst.

Did you know? Each catalytic converter contains a few hundred dollars worth of platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), and rhodium (Rh).

A reduction and oxidation reaction occurs inside the device. Carbon monoxide (CO) in converted to carbon dioxide (CO2). Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are broken down into nitrogen gas (N2) and oxygen gas (O2). And hydrocarbons (HC) are converted into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).

First of all, the catalytic converter uses a reduction catalyst composed of platinum and rhodium to reduce the nitrous oxides. As the nitrous oxide molecules (NO and NO2) pass through the device, the catalyst removes the nitrogen atom, allowing the free oxygen to form oxygen gas (O2). The nitrogen atom that is attached to the catalyst reacts with other attached nitrogen atoms to form nitrogen gas (N2).

Did you know? A new lawn mower produces 93 times more smog-forming emissions than a new car!

Reduction Reaction 1: 2NO => N2 + O2 Reduction Reaction 2: 2NO2 => N2 + 2O2

In the second stage of the reaction, an oxidative catalyst of platinum and palladium decreases emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and unburned hydrocarbons (HC).

Oxidation Reaction 1: 2CO + O2 => 2CO2 Oxidation Reaction 2: H4C2 + 3O2 => 2CO2 + 2H2O

Reducing Pollution

In gasoline engines, catalytic converters are reliable and efficient at reducing pollution. They convert an estimated 90% of the hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides produced into less harmful compounds.

Views: 8