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Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) has been awarded a research program from the U.S. Navy to develop a portable low size, weight, and power (SWAP) carbon monoxide (CO) purification system based on an energy efficient air handling system and a water tolerant CO catalyst.

The catalyst exploits the interfacial synergy between the catalyst and support to enable room temperature CO oxidation. A catalyst coating will extend catalyst lifetime in humid environments by preventing water from entering and deactivating the catalyst. The catalyst will be engineered into a modular fixed-bed with an operational lifetime of >10,000 hr at 100 cfm. PSI has generated a preliminary CO purification system design that is rugged, compact, and rapidly deployable in emergency situations. Accordingly, the CO purification system will fulfill the Navy’s capability requirement for a portable system that can remove hazardous levels of CO from ambient air in closed manned submarine environments.

PSI’s portable CO purification system will mitigate the risks associated with the build-up of hazardous CO levels in confined manned spaces on submarines. This capability also fulfills the critical needs of the mining and space exploration industries that would benefit from for a low SWAP man-portable CO purification system that operates at ambient conditions. The catalyst technology is applicable in automotive air purification systems, gas masks for firefighters, and selective oxidation of CO in reformer gas for fuel cells.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Dorin Preda
Group Leader, Material Technologies
dpreda@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003