Streets paved with platinum

Archiv – A research project involving Cardiff University in Wales and the University of Birmingham in England is focusing on the recycling of precious metals from road dusts and vehicle exhausts.United Kingdom | A research project involving Cardiff University in Wales and the University of Birmingham in England is focusing on the recycling of precious metals from road dusts and vehicle exhausts.
Catalytic converters reduce vehicle exhaust pollutants to an acceptable level; all use platinum in their construction but, over their years in use, this precious metal is slowly lost through exhaust pipes. Dr Hazel Prichard of the School of Earth Ocean and Planetary Sciences of Cardiff University believes that many kilogrammes of platinum are being sprayed on to streets and roads every year.
She comments: ’Platinum is a vital component not only of catalytic converters but also of fuel cells. Fuel cells are an important new source of clean energy. Platinum is a precious metal and resources are scarce and expensive. Our research is looking at ways of recycling platinum and other precious metals.’ Her team is aiming to find locations where platinum is sufficiently concentrated for cost-effective and sustainable recovery; a prime focus for study is road-sweeper waste containers.
The same universities also exploring how food wastes and ‘€˜friendly’€™ bacteria can be harnessed to create greener energy. The goal is to devise techniques to produce clean fuel cells to create reliable, greener energy while minimising waste.