The role of exhaust catalytic converter

An exhaust catalytic converter is part of a car's exhaust system. It's an exhaust purification device that uses a catalyst to convert CO, HC, and NOx in exhaust gases into harmless gases. It's also called a catalytic converter. The catalytic converter works by using oxidation, reduction, water-gas reactions, and steam reforming reactions under the action of a catalyst to convert the three harmful gases (CO, HC, and NOx) into harmless gases: carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, and water. Based on the purification method, catalytic converters can be classified as oxidation catalytic converters, reduction catalytic converters, and three-way catalytic converters.

With increasingly stringent environmental protection requirements, more and more cars are equipped with exhaust catalytic converters and oxygen sensors. Installed in the engine exhaust pipe, it converts the three harmful exhaust gases (CO, HC, and NOx) into harmless water, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen through oxidation-reduction reactions. Therefore, it's also called a three-way catalytic converter. Its catalysts often contain precious metals such as platinum and germanium, or rare earth elements.