Carbon monoxide (CO) is a noxious and potentially fatal gas that is produced as a result of incomplete combustion of a hydrocarbon such as petroleum or natural gas. Minimal exposure to CO can cause adverse side effects that include headache, fatigue, dizziness, sore throat, as well as other various malaises. Prolonged exposure can cause much more serious symptoms such as arrhythmia, breathing problems, sleepiness, loss of consciousness, and in some cases, death.

The Environmental Protection Agency reports that hundreds of people die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning, with elderly people, young children, and those with respiratory problems being among the most susceptible to having a fatal reaction from carbon monoxide inhalation. Carbon monoxide is known to be a silent killer as it is invisible, has no odor whatsoever, and its harmful effects are almost immediate.

Carbon Monoxide Sources

Carbon monoxide sources are plentiful. The air we breathe is one such source. A small, non-harmful amount of carbon monoxide is present in the atmosphere produced by such things as volcanic activity, forest fires and man-made fires, and the burning of fossil fuels. Carbon monoxide (CO) is measured in concentrations of parts per million (ppm). The natural level in the atmosphere is 0.1 ppm, and the average level in a household ranges from 0.5 to 5ppm.

With the increase of air pollutants, carbon monoxide global warming has now become a relevant and important issue. Pollutants are mainly derived from the exhaust of internal combustion engines and during the careless burning of various types of fuel - that is, the incomplete combustion of materials. The more efficient the combustion process, the less the amount of carbon monoxide produced.

Carbon Monoxide in the Home

The most common carbon monoxide sources in the typical household are the following:

• Furnace (natural gas, propane, oil, wood)
• Fireplace (gas, wood, coal)
• Stove (gas, wood)
• Barbecue (gas, charcoal)
• Garden tools (gasoline/petrol)
• Generators (gasoline, diesel, propane)

Carbon Monoxide in the Workplace

Some workplaces tend to experience higher emissions of carbon monoxide. Here are a few:

• Construction sites and warehouses using equipment powered by propane, such as forklifts.
• Paint shops (certain paints contain methylene chloride, the vapors of which are converted into carbon monoxide when inhaled into the body).
• Indoor ice arenas that make use of ice resurfacing vehicles.
• Pottery studios where kilns are utilized.
• Indoor car shows.
• All sites using gasoline-powered tools such as welders, chain saws, pressure washers, floor buffers, etc.

Catalysis

Luckily, carbon monoxide removal is possible through the process of catalysis. Catalysis is a change in the rate of a chemical reaction; it can either speed it up or slow it down. Catalysts that speed up a process are called positive catalysts whereas catalysts that slow down a reaction are called negative catalysts.

The catalysis that results in carbon monoxide removal involves a positive catalyst. It speeds up the reaction that produces CO, and introduces it to oxygen in order to convert the toxic carbon monoxide into the completely harmless carbon dioxide. The reaction is very simple: carbon monoxide (CO) plus Oxygen (O) equals carbon dioxide (CO2). Although the catalyst itself may undergo transformations during the reaction, it emerges unchanged at the culmination of the process.

Types of Oxidation Catalysts

There are many different types of carbon monoxide removal catalysts that result in carbon dioxide removal. The type of catalyst chosen typically depends on a variety of different factors including the amount of oxygen available as well as how the catalyst will be applied.

The gas which is contaminated with carbon monoxide must contain some initial amount of oxygen in order for the oxidation catalysis to work properly. There are several factors which affect how successful the catalysis will be in converting the poisonous carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide including how much carbon monoxide is present, the temperature and humidity levels of the atmosphere, and the other chemicals or contaminants present at the time of catalysis.

Generally speaking, oxidation catalysis usually requires the use of transition metals such as gold, palladium, ruthenium, platinum, iridium, and rhodium. All oxidation catalysts work the same way to transform carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide, thus reducing or eliminating the potential risk of CO inhalation.

There are some useful applications for carbon monoxide removal via catalysis, commercially, industrially, and residentially, that is businesses, factories, and homes could benefit from the process of oxidation catalysis. Devices that use this reaction to minimize or erase traces of CO in a building or warehouse could potentially decrease the incidence of carbon monoxide poisoning and thus, save countless lives.