Catalysis of Electric Cooking Fumes

Catalytic converters are very effective at oxidising most of the organic gases and condensable particulate matter components of cooking fumes to carbon dioxide and water. These reactions have double benefits: they improve air quality and also release heat energy from the fumes which would otherwise be wasted.

In order for the catalytic converter to be effective, the temperature of the gas passing through it needs to be at least 200oC therefore this technology is most suited to enclosed cooking equipment such as ovens, charbroilers, fryers, chargrills and roasters. The most popular applications for catalytic converters in the commercial sector are rapid-cook combination ovens, as well as conveyor and pizza ovens. In the domestic sphere they are frequently fitted to high-end pyrolytic self-cleaning ovens to minimise the unpleasant fumes emitted during the cleaning cycle.

A vital consideration for catalytic converters used in cooking appliances which involve gas recirculation is that the catalytic coating must be very well adhered to the substrate, otherwise it could flake off and contaminate the food.

The catalytic converter must also be made of materials which do not corrode in the moist atmosphere present in a cooking appliance. Ideally it should be installed in a location where it can be easily removed for cleaning, however if this is not possible it may be a good idea to install a separate grease filter which is accessible.

Finally, cooking equipment equipped with catalytic converters must only be cleaned using approved chemicals, otherwise this may result in damage to the catalytic converter. Caustic cleaning products must never be used.