Minerals yearbook, 1990: Platinum-group metals. Annual report

Technical Report · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:5532969

Loebenstein, J R

The platinum-group metals (PGM) are composed of six closely related metals: platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium. They commonly occur together in nature and are among the scarcest of the metallic elements. In terms of commercial importance, platinum and palladium are the two most important metals of the group. All of the metals are valued for their corrosion resistance and catalytic activity. The Clean Air Act of 1990 was passed by the Congress and signed by the President. Provisions of the new law require a 35% reduction in hydrocarbons and a 60% cut in nitrogen oxides beginning in 1994. In addition, automotive catalytic converters must be guaranteed by manufacturers to last double the current 50,000 miles. The price of rhodium soared to a record high of more than $7,000 per troy ounce briefly in June before settling down to the $4,000 to $5,000 range. The supply of rhodium is a problem of increasing concern to automotive manufacturers who use it to control nitrogen oxide emissions from cars and trucks. There are no substitutes for rhodium for this application. The report discusses domestic data coverage, background, annual review, and outlook.

• Research Organization: Bureau of Mines, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5532969
• Report Number(s): PB-92-155746/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290400* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Resources
CATALYTIC CONVERTERS
ECONOMICS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EQUIPMENT
EXPORTS
IMPORTS
INVENTORIES
IRIDIUM
LAWS
LEGISLATION
MARKET
METALS
OSMIUM
PALLADIUM
PLATINUM
PLATINUM METALS
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
POLLUTION LAWS
PRICES
PRODUCTION
RECYCLING
RHODIUM
RUTHENIUM
TRADE
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
US CLEAN AIR ACT
USES