Students from the ChemiTech Scientific Circle of the Wrocław University of Technology have started a scientific project with aim to recover platinum and rhodium, which car catalysts leave in the street dust – informs the university’s website.

According to students, the amount of platinum and rhodium from cars is small and their recovery for industrial purposes may be unprofitable. Young chemists, however, pay attention to the ecological aspect of their project.

– These are finally heavy metals, just like mercury or lead. Platinum from roads along with rain flows to the side of the road where plants are found. It can react with humic acids, it penetrates into the soil, the roots are eaten by animals and so on – the participants explain.

Students emphasize that only the results of their research will show the direction for further research. For now, they want to check how much platinum is accumulated on Wrocław streets and what part of them can be recovered.
More about the project: http://pwr.edu.pl/uczelnia/aktualnosci/nasi-studenci-zamiataja-ulice-w-poszukiwaniu-platyny-10829.html