Platinum in the fight against COVID-19
Platinum Group Metals, including platinum, are
Being used by health workers in the fight against COVID-19
Platinum’s role in combating some of the most serious health issues facing the world was well established even before the current global healthcare crisis brought about by the spread of COVID-19.
From cardiovascular disease to cancer, platinum has for decades provided modern medicine with tried and tested treatment solutions and it remains at the forefront of medical innovation. For example, pacemakers and stents contain platinum components. Further, the chemotherapy medication Cisplatin, known as the ‘penicillin’ of cancer drugs, is made from a compound of platinum.
Today, platinum, together with some of its sister Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), is more relevant than ever as it joins the fight against COVID-19. Platinum is the material of choice for electrodes in blood gas analysers due to its fast response and reduced measurement error compared with other electrode options.
Instruments that read blood gas composition are proving vital as a diagnostic tool for healthcare professionals treating the virus as they help to screen, diagnose and monitor patients suffering from respiratory compromise.
Platinum catalysts that speed up chemical reaction times and improve yields are also playing their part and are involved in the manufacture of both polypropylene and medical-grade silicones for in demand personal protective equipment (PPE) and other disposable medical products.
PGM catalysts are also used in the production of many active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), including antibiotics used in the treatment of some COVID-19 patients. An API is the biologically active component of a pharmaceutical product.
It is not only medical settings that are benefiting from the use of PGMs. Electro chlorination systems are being deployed in Italy, China, Japan and Singapore to produce sodium hypochlorite for disinfecting surfaces, including those in buildings and public areas, as part of efforts to beat the virus. The PGMs iridium and ruthenium are important catalysts used in these systems to produce chlorine.
