Paper Title
Design Innvovation of Motorcycle Muffler by Applying Catalytic Converter Based on Non-Noble Material to Reduce Exhaust Emission
Abstract
Exhaust emissions from vehicles is one of the main sources of air pollution. The most effective technology to
reduce emissions of Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Hydrocarbon (HC) is the application of the catalytic converter in the
exhaust system of the motorcycle muffler. The commonly used catalysts are noble materials such as Palladium, Platinum,
and Rhodium. In this study, Copper-Zinc (CuZn) and Copper (Cu) material has been selected as catalyst because it has high
activity in the exhaust system, low cost production, the availability is abundant, and operated at a lower temperature than the
noble material. Measurements of exhaust emission were carried out at 2000 and 2500 rpm using gas analyzer. Design
innovation of CuZn and Cu catalyst were a cylindrical shape with 6.6 cm of length; 2.4 cm of diameter and 10 tubes in the
inner of the cylinder. The purpose of this research was to compare the performance of two different types of catalyst. The
research results showed that CuZn catalyst was effective to decrease CO emission up to 47.71% in 2000 rpm, while HC
emission decreased up to 55.34% in 2500 rpm. Cu catalyst was effective to decrease of CO emission up to 46.61% in 2000
rpm, while HC emission decreased up to 47.13% in 2500. Copper-Zinc catalyst can reduce of CO and HC emission higher
than Cu catalyst. Overall, CuZn and Cu catalyst has given a good performance due in accordance with regulation from
Ministry of Environment in Indonesia No. 5 Th. 2006 about exhaust emission standard of old motor vehicle. Therefore,
CuZn and Cu catalyst based on non-noble material has been considered as a prospective catalyst to reduce emission of CO
and HC.
Keywords- catalytic converter, exhaust emissions, non-noble material