Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas which is slightly lighter than air. Carbon monoxide is produced from the partial oxidation of carbon-containing compounds. So it is present whenever any fuel such as gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal is burned. It forms when there is insufficient oxygen to produce carbon dioxide (CO2), such as when operating a stove or an internal combustion engine in an enclosed space.
At high concentration levels it can kill a person in minutes. At moderate levels it can cause severe headaches, dizziness, weakness, confusion, nausea and or fainting—even death if these levels persist for a long time. Low levels can cause shortness of breath, mild nausea, and mild headaches, and may have longer-term health effects. on your health. Since many of these symptoms are similar to those of the flu, food poisoning, or other illnesses, CO may go undetected.
The long-term effects of breathing in carbon monoxide can affect memory, brain function, behavior and cognition. It can also cause permanent damage to other major organs, such as the heart.
CO monitoring can serve not only as an important safeguard against CO poisoning but also can warn of a fire before any smoke is seen. Therefore, it is a key to fire prevention in coal-fired power plants.
Specifications
| Gas | Carbon Monoxide | Gas Density | 0.97 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemical Symbol | CO | Detection Principle | Electrochemical |
| PEL (ppm) | 35 | LEL (%) | 0.125 |
| IDHL (ppm) | 1500 | UEL (%) | 0.74 |
| Industries | Early Fire Detection, Parking Garages, Boiler Rooms, Sallyports, Manufacturing, Warehouses, Bus & Rail Terminals, Airplane Hangers, Subways, Tunnels, Maintenance Garages, Fire Stations, Ice Rinks | description | |
| applications |
Products
- 911154 Carbon Monoxide Monitor & Ventilation Fan Controller
- P1879 Gas Calibration Kits
- P1880 Gas Cylinder
- P2512 Diesel Discriminator
- P2621-CO/VC Carbon Monoxide Monitor & Ventilation Fan Controller
Industrial Applications
Coal-Fired Power Plants
A proactive approach to fire prevention focuses not so much on detecting smoke, which indicates fire, but rather on monitoring CO, which indicates the potential for fire.
Chemical Industry
Carbon monoxide has many applications in bulk chemicals manufacturing. Large quantities of aldehydes are produced by the hydroformylation reaction of alkenes, carbon monoxide, and H2. Hydroformylation is coupled with the Shell Higher Olefin Process to give precursors to detergents. In the Monsanto process, CO and methanol react in the presence of a homogeneous rhodium catalyst and hydroiodic acid to give acetic acid. This process is responsible for most of the industrial production of acetic acid.
Methanol Production
Methanol is produced through the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide.
Diesel Fuel Production
The hydrogenation of CO is coupled to C-C bond formation, as in the Fischer-Tropsch process, whereby CO is hydrogenated to produce liquid hydrocarbon fuels. This technology allows coal or biomass to be converted to diesel fuel.
Nickel Refining
The Mond Process, or Carbonyl Process is a technique used by to extract and purify nickel by converting nickel oxides (nickel combined with oxygen) into pure nickel. This process exploits the fact that CO complexes with nickel readily and reversibly to give nickel carbonyl. No other element forms a carbonyl compound under such mild conditions used in the process.
Meat coloring
Carbon monoxide is used in modified atmosphere packaging systems, mainly to keep meat or fish looking fresh. The CO combines with myoglobin to form carboxymyoglobin, a bright, cherry red pigment. This stable red color can persist much longer than in normally packaged meat. Typical concentrations of CO used in such facilities range from 0.4% to 0.5%.