| For release: November 9, 1995
Michael Finneran
(757) 864-6121
RELEASE NO. 95-110
NEW NASA LANGLEY DEVICE REMOVES DEADLY CARBON MONOXIDE
One day soon homeowners everywhere may be protected from deadly
carbon monoxide fumes, thanks to a device invented at NASA Langley
Research Center in Hampton, Va. It uses a new class of
low-temperature oxidation catalysts to convert carbon monoxide to
non-toxic carbon dioxide at room temperature. It can also remove
formaldehyde fumes.
The catalysts initially were developed for research involving
carbon dioxide lasers.
Industry already has shown an interest. Rochester Gas and
Electric Co., of Rochester, N.Y., has an agreement with NASA
Langley to develop a product for habitable spaces such as homes,
cars and aircraft.
And the Mantic Corp., of Salt Lake City, Utah, plans to use them
in breathing apparatus, such as firefighter masks. The catalysts
also have applications as trace-gas detectors, and in cold-engine
emission control.
To work, the catalysts are applied to a surface. Air passing
over the surface reacts with the catalysts, transforming carbon
monoxide and formaldehyde. The device requires no energy for
operation, doesn’t need to be plugged in, has no moving parts
and lasts a long time.
"Simplicity is the beauty of this technology. It just sits there
and works on its own," said Dr. Billy T. Upchurch, of NASA
Langley’s Experimental Testing Technology Division.
Color 8 x 10
photographs are available.
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