Design and Fabrication of a Pollution Control Converter to Reduce Harmful Exhaust Emission

Abstract

Internal combustion engines are integral to modern technology that emit harmful gases such as carbon monoxide (CO), Unburned hydrocarbons (UHCs), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), and other particulate matter (PM), contributing significantly to global pollution and health hazards. This research integrates copper as a catalyst to reduce exhaust gas emissions. Copper is used because it is abundant and cost-effective compared to noble metals and can serve as a viable alternative. The research is designing and fabricating a copper-based catalytic converter tailored for reducing emissions in high-pollution environments. Key objectives include studying the converter’s impact on reducing particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, designing and fabricating an efficient catalytic system using optimal materials, and evaluating the performance under varied conditions. Experimental test results showed that using a copper-based catalytic converter resulted in a maximum reduction of 30.24% in NO_x emissions and 31.63% in CO emissions when used in an engine operating without a catalytic converter. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of copper’s catalytic making it an economically viable alternative for reducing vehicular emissions. By leveraging copper’s catalytic properties, this project introduces a novel method that incorporates copper into an iron mesh substrate which facilitates the catalytic process to reduce the exhaust gas emission before release to the atmosphere.