| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4457637 | Journal of Geochemical Exploration | 2013 | 5 Pages |
This study investigated platinum group elements (PGEs) in urban dusts from metro cities of China and India. The dust samples were collected during 2007 to 2009 and determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The PGE concentrations in the samples from China are within the range of 4.3 to 385 ng/g for Pt, 3.8 to 538 ng/g for Pd and 2.5 to 134 ng/g for Rh, respectively, and from Kolkata of India are within the range of 2.6 to 51.0 ng/g for Pt, 0.7 to 63.7 ng/g for Pd and 0.2 to 21.3 ng/g for Rh. The level of PGE concentrations is far higher than that of natural background, and this could be attributed to PGE catalytic converters used for automobiles. The PGE abundance levels in the urban dusts from individual cities are different and mainly reflective of the time length for PGE used as catalysts and density of vehicles equipped with catalytic converters. Despite the relatively shorter time period for catalytic converters applied to vehicles in China, PGE contents in the urban dusts from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou have been up to the same magnitude as that in developed countries. According to the ratios of individual PGE to the total PGE contents (ΣPGE) in the urban dusts, the Pt–Pd–Rh catalytic products were found to have characteristics of varied proportions for both Pt/ΣPGE and Pd/ΣPGE, and relatively constant proportion for Rh/ΣPGE (e.g. constant proportion of (Pt + Pd)/ΣPGE). The varied proportions of Pt and Pd in catalyst products could imply that there have been some development and improvement of catalyst technology in developing countries. The PGE proportions indicate Rh is a minor component and Pt + Pd is a dominantly major component in the Pt–Pd–Rh catalytic products.
► This study investigated PGE contents in urban dusts from China and India. ► The PGE contents have been up to the same magnitude as developed countries. ► The elevated PGE abundances have been attributed to autocatalytic converters. ► Different proportions of Pt and Pd imply some development for catalytic technology.
