Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection

Portable & fixed-point CO detectors for healthcare, pharmaceuticals, chemical manufacturing, agriculture, and environmental testing.

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About Carbon Monoxide Detection

Carbon monoxide (CO)—also known as Carbonic oxide and Carbon(II) oxide—is used in a host of industries, for dozens of applications.

Some of the more common ones include fuel gas mixtures; chemical synthesis (organic acids, esters, alcohols, metal carbonyls); the reduction of ores; semiconductor manufacturing; and production of pharmaceuticals.

While a fairly large amount of CO is produced naturally, via photochemical reactions in the troposphere; volcanoes; and spontaneous forest fires; the most significant source affecting human health occurs from incomplete combustion of fuels. That is, insufficient oxygen is available to allow the reaction to complete to carbon dioxide.

Such incomplete combustion can occur in motor vehicles, power plants, and sundry industrial settings. Likewise, faulty heating systems and room space heaters can affect indoor occupancies, and are a hazard during cold weather.

Occupational Health/Toxicology

Exposure to carbon monoxide impedes the blood’s ability to deliver oxygen to body tissues and vital organs. When CO is inhaled, it combines with hemoglobin (in the red blood cells), producing carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), which greatly diminishes hemoglobin’s oxygen-carrying capacity.

Hemoglobin’s binding affinity for carbon monoxide is 300 times greater than its affinity for oxygen. In fact, certain pulmonary function instruments take advantage of this property, and so-called “lung diffusion” mixtures, containing 0.3% (3000 ppm) CO—along with 21% oxygen, and a neutral gas such as helium to measure the dilution factor—are supplied for this purpose.

As such, small amounts of carbon monoxide can dramatically reduce hemoglobin’s ability to transport oxygen. Common symptoms of CO exposure are headache, nausea, rapid breathing, weakness, exhaustion, dizziness, and confusion. Hypoxia (severe oxygen deficiency) due to acute carbon monoxide poisoning may result in reversible neurological effects, or it may result in long-term (and possibly delayed) irreversible neurological or cardiological effects.

High concentration CO exposures can be fatal, and still represent the leading cause of death due to poisoning in the United States. Sadly, virtually all these deaths are preventable.

Full record from Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), a database provided by the US National Library of Medicine.

The carbon monoxide entry from NIOSH’s Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards.

Ranges We Detect For Carbon Monoxide

Sensor Range

0 - 2000.0 ppm

0 - 500.0 ppm

0 - 200.0 ppm

0 - 50.0 ppm

Measurement Specifics

Range0 - 4000 ppm
Maximum Overload8000 ppm
Resolution< 2 ppm
Typical Baseline Range-8 ppm to 10 ppm

Range0 - 1000 ppm
Maximum Overload2000 ppm
Resolution< 0.5 ppm
Typical Baseline Range-2.0 ppm to 3.0 ppm

Range0 - 500 ppm
Maximum Overload1000 ppm
Resolution< 0.3 ppm
Typical Baseline Range-2.0 ppm to 2.0 ppm

Range0 - 200 ppm
Maximum Overload400 ppm
Resolution< 0.1 ppm
Typical Baseline Range-1.0 ppm to 1.0 ppm

Not sure what range you need?

INDUSTRIES WE SERVE

Aerospace

Agriculture & Fertilizer

Chemical Manufacturing

Environmental Monitoring

Healthcare

Mining

Oil and Gas

Pharmaceutical

Semiconductor

Textiles

Waste Water Treatment

Wood, Paper & Pulp

Portable Gas Detection

GASD 8000

Portable Gas Detector

Elevate Safety Standards with the GasD® 8000 Portable Gas Monitor Read more... about GASD 8000

Fixed Gas Detection

AccuSafe

Fixed Point Gas Detection

Precision Gas Detectors Tailored to Your Facility Read more... about AccuSafe

Fixed or Portable Gas Detectors: What Does Your Facility Need?

Fixed and portable gas detectors have different functions in industries. Fixed gas analyzers protect the facility and personnel by detecting accidental leaks and monitoring gas levels daily for compliance and process optimization. Portable gas analyzers protect individuals from exposure to hazardous gases in high-risk areas and jobs. The two systems’ use is not mutually exclusive.

How to Place Gas Detectors for Optimal Safety and Accuracy

Fixed sensors’ accuracy and reliability depend on optimal placement. Several characteristics of gases, such as point of origin, facility process, and equipment, must be considered to determine the location and placement of sensors. Industrial hygienists and safety managers should consult experts on gases, facility processes, and engineering to jointly determine the placement of fixed sensors.

Ensuring Accuracy in Gas Detection: The Importance of Wet Chem Calibration

Watch the video to see our wet chem calibration setup in action. At Interscan, we are committed to delivering precise and reliable gas detection solutions. One unique offering is the ability to calibrate gases that require wet chemistry. This article will explore wet chem calibration, why it is necessary, the process involved, and how we ensure our clients receive consistently accurate sensors. What is Wet Chem Calibration?

Is Fixed Gas Detection Necessary?

Yes, fixed gas detectors are necessary to provide continuous air monitoring for hazardous gases in stable and risky areas in workspaces without human intervention. Fixed gas detectors can be connected to alarm systems and building management software to provide crucial safety chain reactions, even without human intervention. Fixed gas detectors keep personnel safe and healthy, protect the facility, and help in regulatory compliance.

Gas Detection Applications Primer

Commonly Used Terms for Gas Detection Applications PPM: Part(s) Per Million A unit of concentration, pertaining to a gas mixture, defined as the ratio between the volume of an individual component V i and the total volume V total 10,000 parts per million equals one percent. LEL: Lower Explosive Limit The lowest concentration of a gas in air, which, when ignited, will sustain combustion.