What makes catalytic converters valuable?

Catalytic converters

A full-fledged business line has emerged around the purchase of catalysts. Vehicle owners can make money by selling a faulty part since precious metals are located inside its case. This is a great option for those who want to get back some of their investment. Reliable dealers that buy out failed catalytic converters can be found on Auto Catalyst Market UK.

Operating principle

Catalytic converters partially purify exhaust gases and convert them into carbon dioxide and water. The process takes place through chemical reactions involving several precious metals including palladium, rhodium and platinum. They come into action when the temperature inside the part reaches 300 ° C. 

Useful life 

Catalytic converters operate for about 92,000 miles on average. This detail requires special attention since it can fail even before the specified time. The performance of the catalytic converter can be influenced by many factors, including:

1. the use of low-quality fuel and various additives for the engine,
2. problems with the fuel system,
3. malfunctions in the components of the engine or ignition system, and 
4. regular mechanical impact. 

All the abovementioned factors can lead to failure or clogging of the honeycomb. In this case, it will be necessary to replace the part in order to avoid polluting the external environment and damaging other parts of the vehicle.

The volume of the precious metals in the catalytic converter

The volume of valuable metals in the catalytic converter is determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis. It shows the volume and quality of a particular element. For countries where the requirements are stricter, more valuable metals are used in catalysts. As a result, such parts are more expensive in the secondary market.

It is worth noting that dealers pay approximately 75 percent of the cost of metals. If the volume of metals is higher after the breakdown, it will be possible to sell the converter at a higher price. 

Recycling of catalytic converters 

Selling catalytic converters to dealers is a great opportunity to free up space from unnecessary parts and get a reward for that. Catalytic converters are bought for recycling that is performed in several stages, which are enumerated below:

1. The metal body is cut and the filter is removed.
2. The composition is analyzed for the presence of valuable metals.
3. Parts are sorted and prepared for grinding.
4. Ground homogeneous mass is analyzed.
5. Accurate information about the part is compiled. 

After that, the owner of the catalytic converter receives documents that indicate the data on the results of the studies of the assay. Then the dealers announce the cost for the out-of-service catalytic converter. 

After the sale, specialists extract the precious metals and the rest of the parts are disposed of. This method enables vehicle owners to take care of the ecosystem, and return some of their money, which can be spent on the purchase of a new part.