Sources of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Monoxide is a result or product of incomplete combustion typically of a hydrocarbon such as natural gas or petroleum.  There are many different situations where carbon monoxide can be produced due to incomplete combustion.

Symptoms

The symptoms of mild carbon monoxide poisoning can go unnoticed and are similar to a viral cold or flu infection, typically; headache, nausea, abdominal pain, dizziness, sore throat and dry cough.  Unlike flu carbon monoxide poisoning does not cause a raised or high temperature.  Higher levels of poisoning can result in hyperventilation, raised and irregular heartbeat, confusion, drowsiness and difficulty breathing.  Ultimately loss of consciousness, seizures and death are real possibilities.

Facts

Carbon Monoxide is produced across industry in controlled and hazardous situations.  In industrial applications it is particularly associated with confined spaces, where there is the potential for contamination of the atmosphere due to incomplete combustion products from the exhaust of an engine, generator, boiler system or from contamination of a breathable compressed air line.

In many of these situations, the risk of exposure can be minimised, or altogether eliminated, by the use of an oxidation catalyst, which will convert harmful Carbon Monoxide, to the much less harmful Carbon Dioxide.

Reaction

CO  +  ½ O2  =  CO2

Catalysis

Catalysis is the process by which the rate of reaction is increased by the addition of an additional element known as a catalyst to the reaction. What makes a catalyst different from a chemical reagent is that whilst it participates in the reaction, it is not consumed in the reaction. That is, the catalysts may undergo several chemical changes during the reaction, but at the end of the reaction, the catalyst is unchanged.  A catalysts service life will usually be determined by how quickly it becomes poisoned  or  fouled.  This is where contaminants deposit on the surface of the catalyst and begin to blind the reaction sites resulting in a drop in performance of the catalyst to a point where it needs to be regenerated or replaced.

Carbon Monoxide Catalyst (Oxidation Catalyst)

Oxidation catalysts are used for the removal of Carbon Monoxide in various applications, typically from breathable gases.

A number of oxidation catalyst products are available, depending on the application and conditions of use. All the catalysts operate in a similar way, by catalysing the reaction of carbon monoxide with available oxygen to convert the monoxide to harmless carbon dioxide. The treated gas must therefore contain a certain level of oxygen in order for the catalyst to be effective.

The temperature of operation, carbon monoxide level, humidity and presence of other contaminants within the gas stream will all have an effect on the performance of the catalyst, and therefore the most appropriate type of catalyst will depend on the application.

Premier Chemicals specialise the supply of gas purification chemicals in the UK such as a range of precious metal and transition metal catalysts, available in bulk quantities for supply, or small quantities for evaluation.

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