Publications in Scientific Journals:
F. Grass, G. P. Westphal, H. Lemmel, J.H. Sterba:
"Rhodium in car exhaust tips by total automatic activation analysis";
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry,
271
(2007),
2;
503
- 506.
English abstract:
Exhaust systems of modern cars contain catalysts for the reduction of CO, NOx and hydrocarbons. These catalysts are made of ceramic materials with a large surface on which platinum metals catalyse the oxidation. The catalysts contain approximately 2 g of platinum and 0.4 g of rhodium. Recently platinum is being replaced by palladium. During driving the platinum-group elements (PGEs) are expelled from the tip in fine particles and are deposited in the environment. For a projected study of emissions from cars driven on streets and highways it is important to know which elements can be measured by short time activation analysis without any chemical procedure.