Why Do Steel Mills Need Carbon Monoxide Catalysts?

As a pillar of the national economy, the steel industry generates a large amount of pollutants during iron ore smelting and steel rolling processes. Carbon monoxide (CO) is one of the most hazardous gases. As a key environmentally friendly material, carbon monoxide catalysts play an irreplaceable role in pollution control in steel mills and are a crucial support for achieving green production. Main Sources of Pollution from Steel Plants

The steel production process is complex, from blast furnace ironmaking to converter steelmaking and then to steel rolling.

 Each step releases a variety of pollutants:

Carbon Monoxide (CO): Blast furnace and converter gas contain large amounts of unburned CO, which is highly toxic and can damage the oxygen-carrying capacity of human hemoglobin.

Dust and Particulate Matter

Dust generated during iron ore crushing and coke combustion can lead to reduced visibility and respiratory illnesses if emitted over a long period of time.
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Sulfur Dioxide (SO₂): During high-temperature smelting, nitrogen in the air reacts with oxygen to form NOx, while sulfur in coal and coke is converted to SO₂. Both are major contributors to acid rain and photochemical smog.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Coolants and cleaning agents used in the steel rolling process release VOCs, which react with NOx in the presence of sunlight to form ozone (O₃).

The Function and Core Properties of Carbon Monoxide Catalysts

The core function of carbon monoxide catalysts is to catalyze the oxidation of toxic CO into harmless carbon dioxide (CO₂). They work by adsorbing CO molecules through surface active sites, which then, at a certain temperature, promote their combination with oxygen to complete the oxidation reaction.

These catalysts must meet the rigorous operating conditions of steel mills and therefore possess three key properties:

High activity: They efficiently convert CO over a wide temperature range of 150-500°C, achieving conversion rates exceeding 99%.

Strong stability: They withstand the high temperatures and dust impacts found in steel mill exhaust gases, achieving a service life of 1-3 years.

Toxic resistance: They are insensitive to impurities such as sulfides and heavy metals in exhaust gases, preventing active sites from becoming blocked and ineffective.

In practical applications, carbon monoxide catalysts are often placed in blast furnace gas purification systems and converter flue gas recovery units, mitigating both safety risks of CO and toxic gas emissions.

The Targeted Effect of Ozone Decomposition Catalysts

Steel mills may produce ozone (O₃) during exhaust gas denitrification and wet dust removal processes due to UV radiation or chemical reactions. While ozone acts as a protective shield in the stratosphere, it is a highly irritating pollutant near the surface, causing lung damage and exacerbating the formation of PM2.5.
Ozone decomposition catalysts specifically address this issue. Using the catalytic action of precious metals or transition metal oxides, they decompose ozone into harmless oxygen (O₂). These catalysts are typically deployed at the exhaust gas terminal, working in conjunction with a carbon monoxide catalyst to form a complete gas purification system.

Author: Hazel
Date: 2025-09-22