What is hopcalite? What is it used for?

Hopcalite is based on active manganese dioxide (MnO₂) and copper oxide (CuO) as core components, and the molar ratio of manganese to copper is strictly controlled between 2.2:1 and 3:1. The active ingredient content of the catalyst is ≥80%, and a porous structure is formed through a mixed molding process. The specific surface area can reach 200m²/g, and nano-scale active sites are distributed on the surface to enhance the catalytic efficiency.
Hopcalite absorbs gaseous oxygen from the air and activates it. When carbon monoxide molecules approach, they are adsorbed to the active sites on the catalyst surface, where they react with the activated oxygen to produce harmless carbon dioxide and water vapor. In this process, the hopcalite acts as a catalyst and does not participate in the reaction itself, but it accelerates the process of converting carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. It is widely used in personal respiratory protection equipment (RPE) and collective protective equipment.
Hopcalite is used in self-rescue respirators to promote the rapid oxidation of toxic carbon monoxide with oxygen in the air to harmless carbon dioxide, which then chemically combines with a layer of sodium hydroxide to eliminate carbon monoxide from the airflow (otherwise activated carbon air filters cannot remove carbon monoxide). It is also used in gas masks and air filtration systems and respirators to filter toxic fumes and purify breathing air.
However, hopcalite cannot come into contact with water, because water vapor will poison the hopcalite catalyst, so silica-based filters are introduced in advance during use to prevent this from happening. The hopcalite layer is also protected by a mechanical filter and an activated carbon layer that cleanses the air of other pollutants. The working principle of the carbon monoxide (CO) detector is based on recording the heat released during the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) to carbon dioxide (CO2).
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author: Hazel
date:2025-06-11