How Much Rhodium Is in a Catalytic Converter? – The average catalytic converter contains about 1-2 grams (0.0353 – 0.0705 ounces ) of rhodium, It also has about 3-7 grams of platinum and 2-7 grams of palladium, However, the exact amount of valuable metal in individual catalytic converters depends on certain factors, like:

How many grams are in a catalytic converter?

As it is known, the harm of cars, which make our lives easier, to people and nature is undeniable. Gases from exhausts cause serious damage to both human health and the environment. It causes air pollution. Catalytic converters have been used for approximately 45 years to largely block these gases released into the atmosphere.

In catalytic converters connected to the exhaust outlet pipe of cars, the platinum group metals convert carbon monoxide gas (CO), hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) released into the air into less harmful carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and water vapor. Catalytic converters contain platinum, palladium and rhodium precious metals from platinum group metals as catalysts.

It provides the breakdown of platinum and palladium hydrocarbons into water vapor and carbon dioxide. Rhodium converts nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide into nitrogen and carbon dioxide. In the figure, as seen in the data in 2013, so much more than 50% of the use of platinum group metals in the world is in the automotive sector. With the ever-increasing world vehicle stock, platinum group metal usage is more common today. In addition to this, the increase in the number of scrap vehicles and the fact that each scrap car included a catalytic converter brought along recycling and recovery processes. The amount of precious metal that can be obtained by processing approximately 360 kg of ore and rock from nature can be obtained by recycling one catalytic converter, which weighs about 1.5 kg. Recycling costs are lower than ore production costs and environmental awareness can be increased because it is possible to produce more by polluting less and consuming less.

Scrap catalytic converter recycling systems are so profitable.The facility amortizes itself in a very shorttimeand the invested budget is gained in a very short time. Having catalytic converter recycling plant is a huge opportunity for investors. What is the Value of Precious Metals? Catalytic converters have economic value as they contain precious metals.

This is the main reason why they are sold as the most expensive scrap. Because it contains rhodium, palladium and platinum, which are among the most precious metals. They can be converted into more cash when Pt, Pd, Rh are recovered from the scrap catalytic converter. How Much is a Gram of Palladium Worth? Considering the variability of the palladium value, although there was a decrease for a period, it did not cause a serious decrease in general. It is still valuable and its economic value continues to increase. Nowadays, palladium price per gram is around $72. How Much is a Gram of Rhodium Worth? Looking at the change in the value of rhodium in the last 10 years, although it has remained stable most of the time, it has increased significantly in the last two years. Nowadays, rhodium price per gram is around $287. Although the quantities vary by model, on average, only one standard catalytic converter contains about 3-7 grams of platinum, 2-7 grams of palladium, 1-2 grams rhodium. That provides serious gains when tons of scrap catalytic converters are recovered. It’s important to recycle and it’s more important to use and have correct process, suitable machinery, high quality systems and trustable team. Also there will be waste gas and waste acid during the process, but they won’t be a problem because at Proses Makina Company, we already have a solution.

All you need to think is how profitable and easy to amortize acatalytic converter recycling system. See, be aware, invest and earn economically. Safiye Tanrıverdi is Project Engineer of Recycling and Refining Systems and a Metallurgical and Material Engineer for Proses Makina Company. She can be reached at,

References

https://youtu.be/ZxdWEi9Ji-M https://youtu.be/zQWe8TbMDxw https://youtu.be/4Cc46sOgvdw

How much palladium is in a catalytic converter?

How much palladium is in a catalytic converter? – The amount of palladium in a catalytic converter varies depending on the type and size of the converter, as well as the specific manufacturer and the year it was produced. However, typically, a catalytic converter contains between 3 to 7 grams of palladium,

How much platinum and palladium is in one catalytic converter?

The Precious Metals Thieves Take From Catalytic Converters picture alliance Catalytic converter thefts have been on the rise over the last few years and show no signs of slowing down, as the prices of the precious metals that they contain continue to skyrocket. According to the, catalytic converter thefts saw an incredible 325 percent increase from 2019 to 2020.

Much of it can be related to the state of global supply chains and the prices of the previous metals that allow a catalytic converter to function. Catalytic converters are muffler-shaped devices that are part of the exhaust system that remove harmful pollutants from engine emissions. The inside of a catalytic converter contains a honeycomb structure that is coated with precious metals and those precious metals act as a catalyst in order to break down those harmful pollutants and convert them into less harmful emissions.(.) Engines put out harmful gasses such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide and the catalyst process inside of a catalytic converter converts these to less harmful substances such as water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen.

Modern catalytic converters typically have two stages with the first stage being a reduction catalyst, which is there to eliminate nitrogen oxide, and the second stage being an oxidation catalyst, which eliminates carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons.

• These stages are typically supported by cerium and ceramic honeycomb catalyst structures and coated with those pricey precious metals that thieves are after.
• The three precious metals that are most commonly contained inside of a catalytic converter are platinum, rhodium, and palladium.
• All three have seen spikes in prices as the pandemic surged and as global supply chains slowed.

According to, the spot price of Rhodium went from $2,300 per ounce in January of 2019 to over $14,000 per ounce by December of 2020, so it’s not surprising that the NICB recorded thefts in the triple digits. The price increases of Rhodium didn’t stop in 2020 as it peaked at a price of $27,000 per ounce in April of 2021 and still remains well above those 2019 levels with a current price over $11,000 per ounce.

Platinum and palladium increases weren’t as drastic, but spot prices are still up over 2019 prices and the price of palladium roughly doubled from the beginning of 2019 to the end of 2020. While they have settled down to some extent, palladium is still up over 30 percent today compared to where it was at the beginning of 2019.

The COVID-19 pandemic has an impact on the supply of these precious metals and the economic situation caused metals prices to increase in general, resulting in price spikes and increased values for secondhand catalytic converters that could be torn apart to extract these precious metals.

According to, the average catalytic converter contains from three to seven grams of platinum, from two to seven grams of palladium, and from one to two grams of rhodium. Current prices in June of 2022 put platinum at around $30 per gram, palladium at around $60 per gram, and rhodium at around $440 per gram.

Taking those prices into account allows us to see that the average catalytic converter can contain anywhere from $90 to $210 worth of platinum, from $120 to $420 worth of palladium, and from $440 to $880 worth of rhodium. This leaves the average catalytic converter with an average precious metals value from anywhere in the low hundreds all the way up to over $1,500 depending on the model.

While a catalytic converter could have precious metals that are valued into the four figures, those prices are not what a thief typically sees. They often sell to a recycler who then turns around and sells them to a facility that can extract the metals. A thief is likely to see less than half of that, but the job is still valuable considering that they can get over $500 for certain models with just a few minutes of work.

The contents and quantities of precious metals in certain catalytic converters are well known, which often translates to certain models being targeted at a higher rate. We often hear of the mid-2000s Toyota Prius being targeted in these thefts and that’s not by accident.

1. They contain one of the most precious metal packed catalytic converters which is known as the GD3 model.
2. Currently shows that model as a bestseller and shows a market price of over $600 for it at this time.
3. Units with similar quantities of these precious metals can be found in other vehicles of the era such as the Chevy Trailblazer, which employs a catalytic converter that can fetch over $400 according to the same recycling group.

Taller vehicles such as the Trailblazer are often more susceptible for this type of theft simply from a standpoint of convenience; a thief doesn’t have to jack them up and can just slide underneath with a battery-powered saw to cut off the exposed catalytic converter.

Not all catalytic converters are built the same, though, as we see prices well below $100 for other Chevrolet and Toyota catalytic converters from the same era, which likely translates to the known quantities of precious metals for those specific model numbers. States are trying to curb these thefts by enacting legislation to make punishments harsher on those that are found with stolen catalytic converters along with laws on how they can be sold but it’s an uphill battle that’s closely tied to those precious metal prices and as long as they stay high, many are likely to take the risk of trying to acquire these valuable catalytic converters.

: The Precious Metals Thieves Take From Catalytic Converters

How much rhodium is in a car?

3. How Does a Catalytic Converter Work? – The average catalytic converter has two ceramic honeycomb structures lined with metal catalysts. These structures help to reduce harmful emissions from exhaust fumes into less harmful gasses in this way:

First structure: Has a platinum + rhodium catalyst, which reduces nitrogen oxide from exhaust fumes into harmless nitrogen gas.

Second structure: Contains a platinum + palladium oxidation catalyst that accelerates the oxidation of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide by oxygen into water vapor and carbon dioxide.

A diesel oxidation catalyst is a converter used by diesel engines. As diesel fuels contain traces of sulfur, the unburned hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas carry sulfur dioxide — a harmful gas. The diesel oxidation catalyst then converts sulfur dioxide and hydrocarbons into less harmful pollutants, sulfur trioxide and sulfuric acid.

How much rhodium is in a catalytic converter how many grams in an ounce?

You might be wondering how much of those PGMs is rhodium? Typically, the amount of rhodium in a catalytic converter is anywhere between 1-2 grams, while the amount of platinum ranges anywhere from 3 to 7 grams and the amount of palladium ranges anywhere from 2 to 7 grams.

What contains the most rhodium?

The ‘common knowledge’ about rhodium is that it is most commonly found in automobile catalytic converters.

How do I find rhodium?

Where is rhodium located? – Rhodium is the rarest element, with minimal quantities found on the earth’s crust. Rhodium can be found uncombined in the river Sands of North America and South America. It is also possible to extract platinum from ores that contain gold, silver, palladium, and other metals.

How much is 1 catalytic converter worth?

What Affects Catalytic Converter Scrap Value? – Catalytic converter worth can range from $800 to $1200. Let’s take a look at some factors that drive scrap catalytic converter pricing:

The precious metal composition of the car part influences catalytic converter scrap prices. The market value of platinum, palladium, and rhodium fluctuates constantly but remains relatively high.

The condition of the scrap catalytic converter is also crucial. The more well-kept it is, the higher the catalytic converter price.

The type of catalytic converter also affects catalytic converter worth. A gasoline cat converter fetches a higher price than a diesel catalytic converter. The difference is that a gasoline cat converter has more precious metals than a diesel catalytic converter.

An OEM converter (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and an aftermarket catalytic converter also differ in value. An OEM converter is more valuable than an aftermarket catalytic converter, as manufacturers must include high doses of precious metals.

As the catalytic converter scrap value depends on its condition, it’s essential to keep an eye on its overall integrity.

How much platinum can you extract from a catalytic converter?

How Much Platinum Is In A Catalytic Converter ? – A standard catalytic converter contains about 3 – 7 grams (0.106 – 0.247 ounces) of platinum, The amount usually depends on your vehicle’s make, model, and year, which is why some cars have a relatively low amount of platinum while others may have double the usual amount.

For example, the Toyota Prius (2016) contains a higher amount of platinum, and has extremely low emissions. Aside from the Toyota Prius, other cars also have a significant amount of platinum, resulting in an expensive catalytic converter. Namely, the Ford F250, Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Aventador, and Ford Mustang.

Now that we know the amount of platinum in your catalytic converter or ‘cat,’ let’s find out how much it’s worth.

How much platinum can be recovered from a catalytic converter?

Platinum Group Metal Recovery from Spent Catalytic Converters Using XRF A catalytic converter is a device used to convert toxic vehicle emissions to less harmful substances by way of catalyzed, or accelerated, chemical reactions. Most present-day vehicles that run on gasoline, including automobiles, trucks, buses, trains, motorcycles, and planes, have exhaust systems employing a catalytic converter.

1. The catalyst component of a catalytic converter is usually platinum (Pt), along with palladium (Pd), and rhodium (Rh).
2. All three of these platinum group metals, or PGMs, are extremely rare but have a broad range of applications in addition to catalytic converters.
3. Platinum, for example, is used in laboratory and dental equipment, electrical contacts and electrodes, and jewelry, while palladium plays a key role in fuel cell technology.

With numerous applications and limited supply, these valuable metals are an attractive target for recovery and reuse from spent catalytic converters. In 2020, the demand for Pt, Pd, and Rh totaled respectively 215, 308, and 31.2 tons. About 32% of the total Pt, 85% of the total Pd, and 90% of the total Rh were consumed by the automotive catalyst industry(1),

1. The same year 33.7 tons of Pt, 41.2 tons of Pd, and 7.3 tons of Rh(1) were recovered from recycling activities, mainly from spent catalytic converters, representing at the 2020 cumulative average price of fine metals a total value of about $12 Billion.
2. Determining the recovery value of the PGMs in a catalytic converter begins with knowing the composition and ratios of the metals used.

Automotive catalyst material is made either of a ceramic substrate, mostly cordierite coated with a precious metal containing a wash coat, or of a metallic substrate with an aluminum oxide wash coat also containing precious metals. The average concentration and the ratio of Pt and Rh were more or less constant 20 years ago, so a simple weighting was sufficient to arrive at a good estimation of the precious metal content.

However, the price of these three elements has fluctuated strongly over the last 20 years, depending on the supply, demand, and speculation. These variations, as well as the tightening of emission legislation, have had a direct correlation on the composition of the catalysts, which themselves have had a strong influence on demand.

Currently, the composition, which depends on the engine displacement and the type of fuel used, varies dramatically. The formulation can consist of only Pt, or various ratios of Pt-Pd-Rh, Pt-Rh, and Pd-Rh. Most of today’s recycled catalytic converters come from cars manufactured, on average, 10 to 15 years ago.

The recoverable amounts of Pt, Pd, and Rh in each can range from 1-2 grams for a small car to 12-15 grams for a big truck in the US. The value of the PGM composition of a single catalytic converter can vary from less than $100 to more than $1000. Moreover, the trade of ground-up material sold as catalysts can be very dangerous because of possible alterations, which can mean inclusion of lead or spent nickel-cadmium batteries.

To avoid considerable financial losses, recycling companies need to quickly and accurately determine the contents of Pt, Pd, and Rh in spent catalytic converters at the collector’s site or in the refineries. In order to analyze non-homogeneous materials like catalytic converters, the collected catalysts with ceramic substrate usually undergo a “de-canning” operation, which is the extraction of the honeycomb-structured ceramic material from the steel case.

All of the ceramic is then sorted crushed, milled, and mostly blended with other catalysts. In contrast, converters with a metallic substrate are first shredded or milled, and then the metallic parts are separated using magnets and winnowing from the wash coat powder containing precious metals. Because of this enrichment, the PGM content of these wash coat samples is usually much higher than that for milled ceramics.

In both cases, the materials are pulverized to a maximum 250µm and loaded into sample cups or sample bags for analysis, and then analyzed using x-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology, XRF is a non-destructive analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of materials.

1. Handheld XRF analyzers work by measuring the fluorescent (or secondary) X-rays emitted from a sample when excited by a primary X-ray source.
2. Each of the elements present in a sample produces a set of characteristic fluorescent X-rays, or “unique fingerprints”.
3. These “fingerprints” are distinct for each element, making handheld XRF analysis an excellent tool for quantitative and qualitative measurements.

A recent study evaluated x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis as compared to lab assays for achieving this objective. To see the results, including the correlation curves, repeatability data, methodology, and comments, read Automotive Catalytic Converters application summary,

How much is palladium a gram?

Monex Live Palladium Spot Prices

How do you extract rhodium?

US5156721A – Process for extraction and concentration of rhodium – Google Patents BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

• 1) TECHNICAL FIELD
• The present invention relates to a process for extracting and concentrating elemental rhodium from both primary and secondary sources.
• 2) BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Heretofore, in order to extract, concentrate, and purify rhodium, several different methods have been employed. Primary sources of rhodium include its ores or any other material which is removed from the Earth and contains rhodium in any one of its native forms.

• Secondary sources of rhodium include all materials from which rhodium may be refined which have been previously employed for another purpose, e.g.
• Spent catalyst materials, platinum/rhodium thermocouple alloys, electrical contact points, etc.
• For the recovery of rhodium from primary sources, ores are generally crushed, finely ground and then treated by flotation and magnetic methods to separate sulphide minerals.

These sulphides are further separated to yield a nickel concentrate which contains most of the platinum metals. Selective removal of copper followed by controlled oxidation of sulphur leaves behind nickel which contains platinum metals as impurities. This nickel is refined electrolytically, and the platinum metals are recovered from the anode slimes.

In the processing of the anode slimes a method is required whereby the platinum metals are converted into solutions of their ions. Once in the form of ionic aqueous solutions, the platinum metals are separated and purified by means known to those skilled in the art. In the case of secondary sources which contain rhodium, several different methods are available to the refiner for its recovery.

The most popular of these methods are described below. The method of recovery chosen depends upon the type of secondary material from which rhodium is being recovered. For example, in the case of certain platinum/rhodium alloy thermocouple wires, it is practical to dissolve the alloys in aqua regia.

• However, the use of aqua regia becomes less practical when small amounts of rhodium are present in a large amount of insoluble material such as the ceramic support material in the case of automotive catalyst materials.
• Since most ores and secondary sources of rhodium contain rhodium as a minor constituent of a mixture, and since it is costly to extract rhodium on a large scale from most mixtures in which it is only present as a minor component, it is of advantage to have at hand a useful method whereby rhodium may be extracted from its sources and rendered into a more concentrated form as an intermediate step prior to final processing.

A major burden to this end in the past has been the exceptional difficulty of rendering rhodium soluble to aqueous solution. One method which is widely used to render rhodium soluble comprises exposing rhodium to sulfuric acid at or near the boiling point of sulfuric acid with or without the aid of other reagents such as sulfur trioxide gas.

Another method comprises heating rhodium and a chloride salt of an alkalai or an alkaline Earth metal in an atmosphere of chlorine gas to a high temperature. A third published method comprises the mixing of rhodium with sodium bisulfate and heating to the fusion temperature of the latter until the rhodium is oxidized.

Another method has been described by Hirose in U.S. Pat. No.4,859,445 whereby rhodium is exposed to a solution of hydrochloric acid while highly toxic chlorine gas is bubbled through the solution. Finally, it is known that hot hydrochloric acid dissolves rhodium, but at such a slow rate to be of little practical use.

1. An object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful process for extracting and concentrating rhodium from its sources.
2. It is a further object of the invention to rapidly extract and concentrate rhodium using less dangerous starting materials and utilizing milder reaction conditions than prior art.
3. It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a method to dissolve and concentrate rhodium without the need for on-site storage of free halogens such as chlorine.

The present invention is concerned with electrochemical generation of reactive chemical species in aqueous solution in a galvanic cell which subsequently serve to dissolve rhodium metal from its powders, mixtures, or alloys which are in contact with the solution.

Powders, mixtures, or alloys of rhodium include a rhodium element contained in a rhodium alloy which consists of rhodium and a small amount of another platinum group metal as well as a mixture containing rhodium which has been employed in other uses, including recovery residues which contain rhodium, as well as ores which contain rhodium.

Following its dissolution, rhodium is concentrated either by electrodeposition at the cathode of the galvanic cell or by removal of the electrolyte solution which contains ionic rhodium species. By proper choice of cathode material, the rhodium which has been concentrated at the cathode is later separated from the cathode material and purified by conventional methods.

1. Sufficient agitation and heating of the solution are employed throughout the process to ensure complete and efficient dissolution and redeposition.
2. Certain chemical additives known to those familiar with electroplating art may or may not be employed to cause the electrodeoposited metal to be less powdery and more adherent to the cathode.

The present invention has the advantage over the method of Hirose (U.S. Pat. No.4,859,445) for the case when chloride is used as the halide that at the rates of chlorine addition described therein, considerable excess of chlorine is present throughout the process.

On a commercial scale, this requires large, efficient fume scrubbers. In the case of the present invention, the burden of fume scrubbing is lessened considerably since usage of excess free halogen is avoided. Also, the present invention requires no on-site facility for storage of halogens (e.g. chlorine), and avoids the dangers and liabilities associated therewith.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The reactive chemical species is generated by electrolysis of an aqueous solution containing negatively charged halogen ions (which, for purposes of the present invention are referred to as “halides”, the term “halides” where used refers to either chloride, bromide, or iodide ions.) in order to generate free halogen species according to the equation: 2X.sup.- →X.sub.2 +2e.sup.- where X may represent chlorine, bromine, or Iodine.

Immediately upon its formation, the free halogen goes on to react with the water present in the solution according to the equation: X.sub.2 +H.sub.2 O→HX+HOX This last reaction is actually an equilibrium expression, and the concentration of HOX is preferably controlled by adjustment of either pH or current density.

Maintaining the concentration of the species in the above reaction to their equilibrium concentrations allows for maximized rates of rhodium dissolution and maximum economy since the highest possible oxidant concentrations are produced at the lowest cost without waste of reagents.

For purposes of this invention, the terms oxyhalide ion and oxyhalide species are taken to collectively include both the ionic OX – radical and the dissolved undissociated form of the corresponding acid HOX, where X represents a halogen. The term “oxyhalide” where used refers to either of or both of these molecular species.

In one preferred form of the invention, when chlorine is employed as the halogen, a slight excess of hydrogen ion is present and the electrical current in the cell is adjusted so that the rate of production of oxyhalide anions is equal to or slightly greater than the rate of consumption of oxyhalide which is caused by the dissolution of rhodium.

The dissolution of rhodium proceeds smoothly as long as the solution pH is maintained below about 2 and the temperature is maintained above about 65 degrees C. when chlorine is employed as the halogen. Although the details of the reaction mechanism for rhodium dissolution are unknown, the reaction product of halogen atoms (which are generated by the electrolysis) with water serve as the source of oxidizing agent for the dissolution of rhodium.

Since rhodium is less electropositive than hydrogen, and as long as the cathode of the electrochemical cell used to generate the oxyhalide species is under sufficient cathodic potential, some of the rhodium in solution in the cell will be deposited at the cathode.

1. There it becomes concentrated in the form of a plate and is later separated from the cathode by conventional methods.
2. The anode and cathode may be isolated from each other in different compartments of the electrochemical cell by a filtering membrane which serves to allow solution to pass while retaining particular matter, a closed electrical circuit being maintained through the electrolyte solution.

This provision allows for fewer impurities to be introduced in the resulting electroplated material. In one form of the invention the cathode comprises copper. Following rhodium deposition, the copper of the cathode is removed by dissolution in a suitable acid such as nitric acid which leaves behind a residue rich in rhodium which is easily processed to produce a pure rhodium sponge by means known to those skilled in the art.

• In another form of the invention, electrolyte solution is removed from the electrolytic cell when its rhodium concentration is at a sufficiently high level for a given set of solution parameters.
• Rhodium is then recovered from the solution by any one of many convienient methods, for example, reduction with formic acid or zinc metal.

Fresh electrolyte solution is added to replace that which was removed, and in this way the process may be operated continuously. Anodes for use in the galvanic cell of the present invention may consist of any material which serves as a good site for and is not adversly affected by the formation of elemental halogens under conditions of anodic potential in the solutions employed in this invention.

It is preferred, however, that the anode is chosen from the group: carbon, platinized titanium, or other noble metal or noble metal alloy-coated substrate such as niobium. The cathode of the galvanic cell of the present invention may consist of a wide variety of materials which serves as a good substrate for adhesion of rhodium during electrodeposition.

The cathode material must also allow for ease of separation of recovered rhodium from itself, and should have a high surface area. Many metals make suitable cathodes for the present invention. Copper and lead are preferred due to their low cost and ease of separation of recovered rhodium.

The electrolytes used in the galvanic cell of the present invention consist essentially of water and: 1) a source of halide ions; 2) a source of hydrogen ions; 3) additives, either organic or inorganic, which improve the adhesion qualities of the deposits obtained, and which may also catalyze rhodium dissolution.

The source of halide ions may come from soluble alkalai metal or alkaline Earth metal halide salts, or the halides of virtually any metal or metalloid which is not electrodepositable under conditions employed in the cell during operation. Preferred sources of halide ions are the sodium halides due to their low cost and ease of availability.

1. The hydrogen halides are available as aqueous solutions and may also be used for the present invention.
2. The source of hydrogen ion may come from any acid which is sufficiently dissociated in aqueous solution to produce pH levels of about 2 or less when added in small quantities under the conditions employed in the galvanic cell of the present invention.

Examples are: the hydrohalic acids (Hydrochloric, hydrobromic, and hydriodic) sulfuric acid, nitric acid, perchloric acid phosphoric acid, etc. Sulfuric acid is preferred since it is widely available, low in cost, and the sulfate ion is rather inert to electrolysis.

Optional additives may be used depending upon the type of material which is being refined. These additives may be either organic or inorganic in nature, and allow for greater integrity of the deposits obtained, probably by a phenomenon known to electrochemists as leveling. Wetting agents, surfactants, organic molecules which contain nitrogen or sulfur atoms, and certain polypeptides have all been employed with varying degrees of success.

The operating temperature of the electrolyte used in the cell is controlled in order to facilitate the efficient dissolution of the rhodium, and also to control the quality of the deposits obtained at the cathode. Temperatures above about 70 degrees C.

1. Tend to cause high stress in thick rhodium deposits, and for this reason it is sometimes desirable to keep the temperature below this point when plating to high thicknesses.
2. On the other hand, dissolution of rhodium from the source material is sluggish below about 60 degrees C.
3. And so it is therefore desirable to maintain the solution temperature above this level.

The current density at the cathode is very influential upon the quality of the deposits obtained theron. If the current density at the cathode is above about 25 Amperes per square foot, then it is necesary to have a minimum of about 100 grams of sulfate ion per liter of solution in order to produce reasonably adherent deposits.

The free chloride level should also always be kept to a minimum level and especially when operating above 25 ASF. Since the process is continuous, and the conditions required for rhodium extraction from a given raw rhodium source do vary, the amount of time a given cathode may be plated upon before the deposits become stressed or cracked and no longer adhere to the cathode will also vary.

By using a cathode configuration of maximized surface area such as fine wire or metal wools, the plating time for a given cathode is increased. Agitation of solutions may be accomplished in a variety of ways and this is not as critical as other factors.

• The main criteria is that the operating current at the cathode should be no more than about 45% of the mass transfer limited current.
• The following examples illustrate the invention to those skilled in the art.
• The examples should be considered as exemplary of the practice of the invention, and not as delimitive thereof.

All parts and percentages are by weight. EXAMPLE I 5.0 grams of rhodium black was suspended in 1 liter of an aqueous solution containing 50 grams of common salt (sodium chloride), 40 grams of phosphoric acid, and 100 grams of sulfuric acid with sufficient stirring.

• A platinized titanium anode and lead cathode were employed as electrodes with a cathode to anode area ratio of about 1 to 1, and an anode-cathode gap of about 3 inches.
• The solution was heated to and maintained at 90 degrees centigrade throughout the electrolysis.
• Three Amperes of electrical current were passed through the solution for 60 minutes after which time the solution was filtered and analyzed for its rhodium content.

Analysis showed the solution to contain 0.63 grams per liter of rhodium metal. The process was repeated until the solution showed no reddish color after the electrolysis step was complete. The cathode was dissolved in nitric acid and the residual rhodium was recovered and combined with the rhodium which was recovered from the electrolyte by precipitation with hot formic acid.

The total recovered rhodium weighed 4.88 grams. EXAMPLE II An electrolyte was made up containing 100 grams per liter of sulfuric acid, 60 grams per liter of sodium chloride and 30 grams per liter of phosphorous acid. A platinized titanium anode and lead cathode were employed as electrodes with an anode to cathode surface area ratio of about 1 to 1.

The surface area of the cathode was about 0.9 square feet. The solution was maintained at 90 degrees centigrade during the electrolysis, and the cathode current density was 5 Amperes per square foot.1000 grams of powdered automotive catalyst material which contained over 98% beta alumina was suspended in the solution with sufficient agitation to suspend most of the solid material.

Is rhodium hard to find?

Rhodium is rare; very rare. In fact, it’s rare enough to be described as ‘one of the rarest and most valuable precious metals’ by its Wikipedia page here.

How much rhodium is left in the world?

Global rhodium supply 2010-2023 As of May 2023, it was estimated that the global supply of rhodium stood at approximately 724,000 ounces. Rhodium is considered one of the rarest and most valuable metals in the world.

Do aftermarket catalytic converters have rhodium?

Aftermarket Catalytic Converters – Catalytic converters contain a slurry of three rare earth metals (Platinum, palladium, and rhodium) that are used to reduce and convert harmful combustion gasses before they enter the atmosphere. All three of these metals are extremely expensive.

1. For example, the price of platinum on March 9, 2017, was over $947 per troy ounce.
2. If your vehicle is well maintained and in good working order, its catalytic converter(s) should last for the lifetime of the vehicle.
3. However mechanical malfunctions can damage catalytic converters and cause them to fail.

Ignition misfires are especially harmful.

Where is rhodium located in a catalytic converter?

Catalytic Converter – Question: How does a catalytic converter work? Answer: Since 1975, every vehicle produced in the United States is required to have a catalytic converter. A catalytic converter is responsible for controlling harmful emissions from your vehicle.

It is located on the bottom of your vehicle, just behind your engine. Breaking down its name, we can analyze exactly what its function is. Catalytic converters contain substances or compounds such as platinum, rhodium, or palladium that act as catalysts and converters. The compounds act like catalysts because they cause a chemical reaction to occur, but they don’t change their original form.

The compounds also act as converters because they react with and convert harmful gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides produced by your engine and they convert them into less harmful gases before they travel out of your exhaust system and into the air.

Catalytic converters contain honeycomb (covered with tiny pores) structures that are coated with platinum, rhodium, or palladium depending on the catalyst stage. Exhaust emissions from the engine will travel through the coated honeycomb structures and react with the compounds. There are two different catalyst stages that emissions will travel through: a reduction catalyst and an oxidation catalyst.

During the first catalyst stage (reduction), nitrogen oxides react with a platinum and rhodium coated honeycomb structure. When these harmful nitrogen oxides react with the catalysts (platinum and rhodium), the catalysts remove the nitrogen molecule, hold onto it, and release the oxygen molecules.

• Then, the nitrogen molecules left over will join with other nitrogen molecules and exit through the exhaust system.
• During this stage, harmful nitrogen oxide gases are converted into harmless oxygen and nitrogen gases.
• During the second catalyst stage (oxidation), carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons are oxidized.

This means that oxygen molecules will react with the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon molecules. These substances pass through a platinum and palladium coated honeycomb structure, which acts as a catalyst and aids in the reaction. During this stage, very harmful carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon gases are converted into less harmful carbon dioxide gases and water vapors.

Catalytic converters also work hand-in-hand with a control system. This control system controls the fuel injection system and monitors the emissions leaving the engine before they enter the catalytic converter. It also contains an oxygen sensor, which detects how much oxygen is entering the exhaust system.

The oxygen sensor will tell the fuel injection system to increase or decrease the amount of oxygen used in the fuel/air mixture used to power the engine. The sensor also makes sure there is enough oxygen in the exhaust system to be used by the catalytic converter in the oxidation catalyst stage.

What are the most valuable catalytic converters to steal?

Hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius have higher standards for cleaning emissions, so their converters are more expensive and are primarily targeted by thieves. Older rides produced after 1974 also have more metals inside their catalytic converters, and luxury models like Lamborghinis and Ferraris.

What is rhodium worth today?

PGMs

Is rhodium cheaper than gold?

Is rhodium plating expensive? – Replating rhodium costs between $40-$100 It is not time-consuming but is a complicated process. Rhodium is more expensive than any other metal, but rhodium plating is less costly than solid gold or platinum. The price of your rhodium plated jewelry depends on the value of the base metal.

Is rhodium expensive than gold?

10 Most Precious Metals in the World Investment oi-Sneha Kulkarni Have you ever wondered why people store their gold in safes? And why is it that your family’s cutlery is always so well-kept? That’s understandable, given that gold and silver are both precious metals. Here is a list of the world’s top ten most valuable metals.Rare, naturally occurring metallic chemical elements with considerable economic worth are known as precious metals.

Precious metals are less reactive chemically than most other elements (see noble metal). They have a high gloss and are frequently ductile. Precious metals were once used as currency, but they are now mostly used as investment and industrial commodities. The ISO 4217 currency code is assigned to gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

There are, however, several precious metals that are even more valuable and sought for. Rhodium holds the title of being the most expensive precious metal on the planet. This exceedingly uncommon precious metal is defined as a silver-white, robust, corrosion-resistant inert transition metal. After a price increase of more than 30% this year, rhodium is quietly one of the hottest trades right now.

1. One of the most valued precious metals is rhodium.
2. Rhodium prices are, in fact, far greater than gold prices.
3. Due to its rarity, rhodium is only available in a fraction of the amount of gold.
4. The large price disparity between gold and rhodium is due to the fact that gold mines are far more numerous than rhodium mines.

Rhodium is a precious metal that is mostly mined in Russia, South Africa, and Canada because of its great corrosion and heat resistance. Its reflecting surfaces are employed in search lights, mirrors, and jewellery finishes, and it gives everything it touches a wonderful shine. This highly malleable metal is extremely resistant to corrosion and is prized for its metallic luster and shiny appearance. Platinum, which is mostly used for jewelry, is also employed for a variety of weapons, aeronautics, and dental equipment due to its high level of resistance. Despite not being the rarest metal, gold remains the most desired metal on the planet due to its durability, flexibility, and desirability. Its golden lustre and chemical qualities make it a valuable component in a variety of machines. Of course, gold’s reputation as a prominent and valuable metal is not unfounded.

1. Gold has been used as currency as a symbol of riches, prestige, and power in almost every society, and the modern world is no exception.
2. Few objects occupy as important a space in our lives as gold, whether it be wedding bands, accolades, or even money.
3. It is still considered somewhat uncommon, hence the high price, and has been used significantly throughout history for coins, jewellery, and arts.

South Africa, the United States, Australia, and China are the top gold producers. Ruthenium is fourth on our list of the most expensive precious metals. Ruthenium is a chemical element with the symbol Ru and the atomic number 44. Ruthenium, one of platinum’s cousins, preserves many of the metal group’s best qualities and is frequently employed as a platinum alloy due to its resistance to outside elements. Iridium is a hard silvery-white transition metal with the second-highest density on the planet. It is the most corrosion-resistant metal, and it can be found in meteorites and the earth’s crust in large quantities. Iridium has a gleaming white appearance and a ridiculously high melting point. metal that can be found as a trace element in alloys and platinum ores.It’s the densest naturally occurring element, and it’s used to manufacture fountain-pen nibs and electrical contacts. It can be found in sections of Russia, as well as regions of North and South America. Rhenium is one of the rarest metals in the earth’s crust, with the third-highest melting and boiling points of any stable element. It is one of the densest metals and has the third-highest melting point. Molybdenum, which is basically a by-product of copper mining, produces rhenium as a by-product. Silver has the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal that has ever been discovered. It can be found in the earth’s crust as an alloy with gold and other valuable metals, as well as in minerals such as Chlorargyrite and argentite.

1. The majority of the world’s silver, on the other hand, is created as a by-product of gold, lead, copper, and zinc refining.
2. Of all the metals, this one has the best electrical and thermal conductivity, as well as the lowest contact resistance.
3. Peru, China, Mexico, and Chile are the top four producers.

Scandium was found in 1879 by spectrum investigation of the minerals euxenite and gadolinite in Scandinavia. Lars Nilsson, a Swedish scientist, is credited with giving it the Scandinavian name. It has a silvery-white metallic hue and has been classed as a rare-earth element throughout history.

It’s present in most rare-earth and uranium-based deposits, but it’s only mined from certain ores in a few mines across the world. Indium is the softest metal on the planet, except Alkali, and is a post-transition metal that makes up about 0.21 parts per million of the earth’s crust. Indium has a melting point slightly higher than sodium and gallium, but slightly lower than lithium and tin.

Ferdinand Reich and Hieronymous Theodor Ritcher used spectroscopic methods to detect it in 1863. It was given the name Indium because of the indigo blue line in its spectrum. China, South Korea, and Japan are the top three producers. For investment related articles, business news and mutual fund advise Story first published: Sunday, November 21, 2021, 14:33

How much is 1 g of palladium worth?

Monex Live Palladium Spot Prices