Preparation and evaluation of self-regenerative carbon monoxide detection gels

Continued development of an especially impregnated silica gel capable of reversible chemical detection of carbon monoxide was reported. The effects of changes in mine related ambient conditions on the detection catalyst's response were explored. Temperature, humidity, and several interfering gases were found to affect the detection catalyst. The interferents include hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide, acetylene (and methylacetylene), and ammonia. High humnidity decreased the detection catalyst's sensitivity to carbon monoxide for some formulations. Increasing temperature generally decreased the reaction time of the detection catalyst with carbon monoxide. A limited physical, chemical, and mechanistic characterization of the detection catalyst and the materials used to prepare it has been carried out. Metal component ratio studies, spectral, analytical, pH, and rate measurements were done.