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The questions are arranged by category. Click on a question to find its answer.

Apparatus and Technique

• Thermocouples: what are their problems in use and prevention?

Catalysis - Applied and Physical Aspects

• Platinum in ethanol
• Why is platinum a good catalyst?
• Catalytic properties of pgms

Catalysis - Industrial Process

• Nitric acid plant converters are dome shaped – why?
• Questions about platinum/rhodium catalyst gauzes used for ammonia oxidation

Chemistry

• Water solubility of platinum salt
• Colour of platinum group metal compounds

Commercial

• Significance of fuel cells to the platinum market
• PGMs in oxygen sensors and spark plugs
• Amount of platinum for anti-cancer medical treatments
• Troy ounce
• Osmium applications

Emissions Control

• Quantity of PGM in an autocatalyst
• Platinum fuel-borne catalysts
• CO light-off temperatures on Pt, Pd & Rh supported on gamma alumina
• Autocatalysts for ethanol-fuelled vehicles
• Platinum catalysts to lower NOx emissions
• Platinum in catalytic converters
• Cleaning up methane exhaust
• Platinum oxidation state for catalytic converters

Fuel Cells

• Are fuel cells and batteries similar?
• Membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) formation

History

• When were the six platinum group metals discovered?

Jewellery

• Platinum jewellery alloys
• Platinum jewellery in India
• Handworking platinum jewellery
• Rhodium for jewellery
• Platinum investment casting
• Biocompatability of PGMs and alloys

Metallurgy and Materials

• Temperature-induced discolouration of platinum alloy
• Sponge form of platinum group metals
• Melting points of pgms
• Crystal structure of platinum

Mining and Geology

• Types of platinum and platinum nuggets
• Platinum and chromium
• Platinum by weight
• Which countries produce platinum and palladium?
• Platinum produced since 1900

Physical Methods

• Etchant to reveal platinum welds
• Test for palladium
• How can platinum wire be joined to platinum?
• How can platinum pastes be made?
• Platinum wire bonding
• Platinum pastes – how is good adhesion achieved?
• How can I test if a metal is platinum?

Refining and Recovery

• Separation of palladium and nickel in solution
• In pgm recovery from effluent are there alternatives to using hydrazine?
• Recycling of pgm-containing scrap
• Separation of PGM
• Recycling spent chemicals
• Rhodium recovery

Surface Coatings

• Electroplating of platinum
• Coating gold dust with rhodium
• Ruthenium / Iridium coating on titanium mesh electrode