1. Catalysis for automotive pollution control

1.1 General principles of automotive catalysis

Combustion engines are a source of air pollution and emit :

• unburned hydrocarbons ;

• oxides of carbon, sulfur and nitrogen;

• solid particles of carbonaceous residue (soot).

The proportion of these gaseous pollutants varies according to the type of engine (petrol or diesel), engine speed and the composition of the fossil fuel. They are partially or totally eliminated before being released into the atmosphere by reacting exhaust gases with a catalytic converter in the exhaust pipe.

The catalysts used to eliminate pollutants consist of one or more metals (Pt platinum, for...