Nanoparticles of platinum metals in the environment

Platinum nanoparticles, mainly released from automotive catalysts, pose a potential risk to the environment. The aim of this bachelor thesis is to investigate the effect of platinum nanoparticles on soil properties at different humidities. Specifically, how nanoparticles affect the stability of hydrogen bridges, the stability of aliphatic crystals, and water retention in soil. For the analysis of relations between platinum nanoparticles, water and soil, a method of thermal analysis was used, namely differential scanning calorimetry. The theoretical part is devoted to the general introduction to platinum metals and nanoparticles. And the preparation of nanoparticles, their characterization and their properties. The result of the experiments is that platinum nanoparticles affect the soil properties relatively significantly