Catalytic Converters: A Result of the 1970 Clean Air Act

Relatable to San Fernando Valley:  On Oct. 14, 1947, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors established the nation's first air pollution control program by creating the Los Angeles County Air Pollution Control District.  50 Years of Progress (aqmd.gov)

2022 SELA  Quarterly CSC Meeting (Southeast Los Angeles Steering Committe)

Feb 23rd flyer-feb23-2023.pdf (aqmd.gov)

The South Coast Air Quality Management District is conducting extensive community-based efforts that focus on improving air quality and public health in environmental justice communities.

History of the Catalytic Converter:

French engineer Eugene Houdry was concerned with the effects of smog on Los Angeles air. His invention was initially used to curb smoke stack exhaust, and later automobile exhaust. His company was Oxy-Catalyst and his patent # 2742437 "Catalytic structure and composition" to curb the effects of exhaust from gasoline engines, was issued 4/17/1956, four years after he applied.

The first hurdle though was conversion of cars away from lead-based fuel, making the catalytic converter able to function.

Then U.S. Congressional legislation guaranteed 100% of all cars would need a catalytic converter. The Clean Air Act of 1970 required all vehicles to cut their emissions 75% by 1975. The first hurdle though was conversion of cars away from lead-based fuel, making the catalytic converter able to function. Then two employees at Englehard Corporation, John J. Mooney and Carl D. Keith, successfully invented the three-way catalytic converter. "Process and apparatus" US Patent 3896616 1975.

While the EPA's 2004 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award was given to Englehard "the design of safer chemicals" there is no mention of the fact a study by University of Massachusetts found Englehard in 2004 to be the 32nd largest corporate producer of air pollution in the United States. Englehard was sold to BASF, a German chemical manufacturer, in 2006, for US$5 billion.  They moved up number two polluter in 2020. Largest U.S. corporate toxic air polluters | Statista      

BASF is the second largest manufacturer of catalytic converters internationally.  Catalyst (basf.com)  They are the number one producer of catalytic converters in the United States.  While they also have a significant business profile in recycling the converters.   

Related articles from SFVnewsPortal.com:

Catalytic Converter Theft: Alert from LAPD Devonshire Division | 2/8/22

Catalytic Converter Theft Has Attention of City Council...For City Owned Cars 3/3/22

Catalytic Converter Theft: Legislation to Halt | 3/21/22

LAPD Topanga Division Converter Etching Event - 50 vehicles max | 5/14/22

Resources:

Catalytic Converters | History of catalytic converters

A Brief History of Catalytic Converters - Recycle Catalytic Converters with the ConverterGuy | Recycle Catalytic Converters with the ConverterGuy

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