A catalytic converter is made up of different materials and has a core and a substrate. The way it works is more simpler than u thinks and I’ll explain. The filtration is actually a chemical reaction involving a catalyst and the exhaust gas coming from the engine. The core is made with ceramics while the catalyts used can be platinum, palladium or rhodium. In others it can be cerium or nickel, even manganese and iron. The reaction has no effect on the catalyst, therefore the catalyst remain the same way it was. .
The catalytic converter works together with the control unit of the vehicle. The control unit constantly monitors the quantity of oxygen passing through the exhaust and adjust the air/fuel mixture accordingly for optimal performance. The catalytic converter is fitted under the belly of a car close to the engine and you might need to bend down to see it. The reason it fixed close to the engine is so that the heat produces by the engine can be transfer to the catalytic converter as the catalytic converter only works at a high temperature of about 800°C. This high temperature can only be produced by the engine.
A catalytic converter works by turning harmful by-product of combustion into harmless substances through a series of chemical reaction. The kind of chemical reaction that occurs will depend on the converters unlimited type of installed on a particular vehicle.