Relationship between Platinum Group Elements in Air and Meteorological Parameters

Abstract

Platinum group elements (PGE), in particular platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh), have a significant role in the operation of automotive catalytic converters. Hot exhaust gases passing through catalytic converters cause damage to these systems, leading to emissions of Pt, Pd and Rh into the environment. Weekly PM10 samples were collected in 2017 at two monitoring stations in Zagreb. Average annual mass concentrations for Pt, Pd and Rh were 0.373, 2.053 and 0.316 pg/m3 at monitoring station North and 0.681, 3.843 and 0.574 pg/m3 at monitoring station South, respectively. The relationship between Pt, Pd and Rh mass concentrations and meteorological parameters including air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, air pressure, wind direction and wind speed was analysed. Wind roses at both monitoring stations pointed to a common source for all three measured metals.