Rhodium is a white-toned precious metal (atomic symbol Rh) and is one of the platinum group metals.
Your vehicle releases hazardous toxins to the environment, but the catalytic converters clean out the toxins, preventing your car from polluting the environment. One of the essential elements involved in this process is rhodium.
It works with other elements, such as palladium, to clean the toxins before releasing the fumes into the environment.
We can say in a nutshell that the primary use for rhodium in catalytic converters is to clean vehicle emissions. Without these catalysts, the air in our cities would be much worse due to vehicle exhausts.
So, how much rhodium is in a catalytic converter? This article provides detailed information about the value of rhodium and the quantity of rhodium present in your catalytic converter and answers related questions.
What is Rhodium?
Rhodium is a chemical element (Rh) with an atomic number of 45 and atomic weight (average mass of the atom) of 102.90550. It is considered to be one of the six platinum group metals (PGM) alongside ruthenium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum.
It was discovered in 1803 by a man named William Hyde Wollaston, who named the metal based on the color of one of its chlorine compounds.
Rhodium is a silver-white metallic element that is highly reflective, durable and resistant to corrosion.
It has a higher melting point and lower density than platinum and does not normally form oxide under any conditions, including heat. Rhodium is rarely used alone and is almost always used alongside other metallic elements.
Role of Rhodium in Catalytic Converters
Rhodium assumes a core role in catalytic converters, leveraging its exceptional catalytic properties to accelerate chemical reactions crucial in transforming harmful pollutants into less harmful compounds.
As a catalyst a substance expediting reactions without undergoing permanent alteration – rhodium facilitates the conversion of toxic gases like nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons into less harmful substances like nitrogen, water vapor, and carbon dioxide.
Its unique ability to withstand high temperatures and efficiently catalyze these reactions, especially in the reduction of nitrogen oxides, makes it indispensable in these emission-control devices.
The precision and efficiency with which rhodium drives these chemical transformations underscore its indispensability within catalytic converters, playing a vital part in curbing vehicular emissions.
What is a catalytic converter?
Catalytic converters are designed to clean vehicle emissions by converting harmful toxins and pollutants into less-toxic pollutants by catalyzing a redox reaction. Rhodium, in combination with palladium and/or platinum, reduces nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas.
Of the three precious metals, rhodium is the most effective at removing nitrogen oxides from the exhaust with high success at also removing hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. Catalytic converters have an average lifespan of 200,000 miles.
Importance of Rhodium as a Catalytic Metal: What is Rhodium Used for?
Rhodium is a precious metal that has a high value due to its unique properties, including its use as a catalytic metal.
A catalytic metal is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. This makes rhodium a crucial component in many industrial and technological applications.
Here are some of the reasons why rhodium is important as a catalytic metal:
Automotive Catalysts
Rhodium is a critical component in catalytic converters, which are used in cars to reduce harmful emissions from exhaust. Rhodium acts as a catalyst to convert toxic pollutants into less harmful substances.
Petroleum Refining
Rhodium is used in catalysts to produce high-octane gasoline and diesel fuel. This helps to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the refining process.
Chemical Synthesis
Rhodium is used as a catalyst in the synthesis of various chemicals, such as perfumes, pharmaceuticals, and plastics. This allows for faster and more efficient production of these materials.
Environmental Protection
Rhodium catalysts are used in various industrial processes to remove impurities and pollutants from gases and liquids. This helps to protect the environment and prevent contamination.
Hence rhodium plays a vital role as a catalytic metal, contributing to the efficiency and sustainability of various industrial processes and technologies. Its unique properties and scarcity make it a valuable and essential material for modern society.
How Much Rhodium is in a Catalytic Converter?
How much rhodium does a catalytic converter have? A standard catalytic converter contains around 1 – 2 grams (0.0353 – 0.0705 ounces) of rhodium.
However, like platinum and palladium, the amount of rhodium in a converter depends on the vehicle’s make, model, size, year, etc.
Though it may be difficult to state how much rhodium is in a specific converter, the above figures define the sum of rhodium in most standard cat converters. The extent to which a converter is built depends on the vehicle manufacturer and the country.
While some countries may be lenient in tackling emissions issues, others can be extremely strict about punishing offenders who do not meet the emissions regulations standards.
So, comparing the converters in cars of the same categories from two countries may not be the same. This is typical because of the strictness of the Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. compared to other countries.
In any case, even a car’s cat-con with the smallest amount of rhodium is still a target for catalytic converter thieves.
This is because the component has some economic value, hence the reason why the number of stolen cat converters has continued to leap from one year to another.
Whether you have a working converter or a used one, the component commands financial value regardless. That means you can sell your old converter for a few dollars once you replace it. Kindly check out the price online or contact a scrap metal buyer near you.
How to Recover Rhodium from Catalytic Converters?
Recovering rhodium from a catalytic converter is pretty much like extracting platinum. However, there’s a slight difference in the process towards the end.
If you have a used cat converter and you’re wondering how to get rhodium out of a catalytic converter, follow this procedure with utmost care.
#1. Remove the cat converter.
First of all, get your safety kits, like a pair of heavy-duty hand gloves, protective eyeglasses, etc., ready before commencing the task.
Afterward, go underneath your car, unscrew the cat converter’s bolts, and take it out. You can also use a flame cutter to separate the cat from the area where it is fitted under the vehicle.
#2. Cut the honeycomb-like part.
Once you get the component down, use the cutter to split the honeycomb-like structure where the metals reside in the catalytic converter.
Ensure that the component is cut carefully to avoid any injuries. Then, remove the platinum with a pair of box cutters or peel them off with your hands.
#3. Crush the platinum.
Once you have the platinum, carefully crush it to powder with a rod mill. The outcome should be around -70 mesh. Next, get a mixture of agents to help with the chemical processing.
#4. Use an aqua regia mixture.
The aqua Regia mixture consists of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. Ensure that the solution is mixed carefully and that the Regia is charged to a reactor.
After that, heat the system to the desired temperature level. Once it gets to a pre-set stable value, add the metal powder to the reactor.
Thereafter, stir the reactant mixture at about 700 rpm at atmospheric pressure. Then, use a pipet to take the leachate at regular intervals and filter to get rhodium.
Please note that this is a task for the professionals. Therefore, contact a local scrap metal yard to help recover the rhodium in your old catalytic converter. Yes, the process can be risky for a DIYer due to the various activities involving corrosive acids or chemicals.
Why Rhodium is So Expensive?
The high price of rhodium is due to several reasons:
#1. Limited Supply.
Rhodium is a rare precious metal found in only 0.0002% of Earth’s crust. It only occurs naturally with other rare platinum metals or by-products of metal ores.
Furthermore, only a few mining sites produce rhodium, with South Africa being the largest producer.
#2. Increased Demand.
The estimated global demand for rhodium in 2023 was 1.06 million ounces, with the automotive industry using about 90%.
With strict vehicle emission restrictions placed worldwide, the demand for rhodium continues to rise as the need to produce cleaner emissions grows.
#3. Unique Physical and Chemical Properties.
Being a platinum group metal, rhodium has some unique properties:
- High melting point: Rhodium has a melting point of 1963°C (3565°F), allowing it to withstand high-temperature environments — like in an exhaust system.
- Chemically stable: This rare metal doesn’t react when exposed to high temperatures and corrosive environments — making it suitable for high heat and concentrated acids.
- Catalytic properties: Rhodium is used as an oxidation catalyst in industrial processes and catalytic converters to reduce vehicle emissions (a catalyst increases the rate of a chemical reaction).
Now that we know what makes this rare metal costly, let’s see why we use this expensive catalytic converter material.
What Cars Have the Most Rhodium in Their Catalytic Converters?
The cars that have the most rhodium in their catalytic converters are mostly luxury cars. This is simply because these cars have more powerful engines than regular cars.
With this in mind, more engine performance and power correspond to more emissions. Considering that a cat converter adds to the price of vehicles, more expensive cars will generally have more rhodium.
This holds true even when making comparisons between regular vehicles. Below are the cars that have the most rhodium, judging how much their catalytic converter worth.
- Ferrari F430
- Lamborghini Aventador
- Ram 2500
- Ford F-250
- Ford Mustang
- BMW 760 Li
- Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Coupe 63
- Toyota Prius
The first two vehicles on this list are, by far, the most expensive catalytic converters to replace because they contain multiple catalytic converters. In similar fashion, these cars will contain the most rhodium and will rake in the most profit when selling.
FAQs.
Q: How much is the rhodium in a catalytic converter worth?
If you’re contemplating, “How much is the rhodium in a catalytic converter worth?” According to Money Metals Exchange, 1 gram of rhodium is worth around $485.48 based on the leap experienced by the metal over time. So technically, 2 grams of rhodium would cost about $970.96.
In other words, a standard catalytic converter with around 1 – 2 grams of rhodium would cost between $485.48 and $970.96 in the market.
This is quite some money. No wonder cat converter thieves would do anything possible to steal a careless owner’s catalytic converter.
Q: What has the most rhodium in it?
The Ural mountains in South Africa, Russia, and Canada have the largest rhodium concentration in the world. To be specific, South Africa ranks as the highest producer of rhodium globally, with about 81% of the world’s exports as of 2020.
Rhodium is quite rare; hence, the amount of worth that is attached to the metal. Nevertheless, South Africa is naturally endowed with rare metals as part of the country’s mineral resources.
Q: What cars have the most rhodium?
If you’re asking, “Which catalytic converters have the most rhodium?” Some of the cars with the most rhodium in their cat converters include the Ferrari F430, Ford Mustang, Ram 2500, Ford F250, etc. This is part of the reason why these cars are luxury automobiles in the industry.
Replacing a Ferrari F430’s catalytic converter will cost around $3,770. Meanwhile, the car is fitted with two cat converters with an estimated value of $7,540.
Q: How much is a gram of rhodium?
A gram of rhodium is about $485.48 as of August 2022. The value of rhodium and other precious metals is most likely to fluctuate due to their price volatility in the metal exchange market. In any case, metals experience more high-level fluctuations than low-level ones.
This is why precious metal theft specialists will not give up on looking for the next catalytic converter to steal despite the number of already missing CAT converters. Therefore, ensure that your car is protected from any intruders.
Q: What is the scrap value of rhodium?
If you’re asking, “What is the scrap rhodium price?” The scrap value of rhodium is about $13,600 per ounce.
However, the volatility of the value of rare metals may affect this figure within a short time. So, if you have a bad catalytic converter, you better sell off the rhodium and other metals in it shortly.
Meanwhile, this is also the best time to secure your car from catalytic converter vandals, who won’t miss a chance to cart away the components from your car. Therefore, it is advisable to always park in safe and lighted areas, especially at night.
Final Words
Ascertaining how much rhodium is in a catalytic converter is pretty straightforward. However, extracting precious metal is a risky task due to the several chemical activities the extraction process involves.
Therefore, if you need to recover the rhodium from your old catalytic converter, ensure to consult the professionals. However, whether you just replaced a bad cat converter or not, carefully protect your car from dubious individuals who are specialized in converter theft.