Platinum & the Platinum-Group Metals

What this topic covers

How platinum relates to palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium and osmium.

Core catalyst ideas

Platinum belongs to the six platinum-group metals, which share useful catalytic and high-temperature properties.

Industrial catalyst formulations may use one PGM or combinations depending on the application.

Substitution between PGMs can be limited by reaction requirements, durability, supply and cost.

System tradeoffs

Activity and selectivity are different performance dimensions, and neither alone defines a good industrial catalyst.

Performance evidence

Catalyst value comes from the total process outcome rather than the amount of platinum present.

Lifecycle perspective

Chemical-process conditions are application-specific and are intentionally excluded from this site.