CO Shift
CO Shift
High-Temperature, Low-Temperature & Sulfur-Tolerant CO Shift Catalyst Solutions
Looking for a CO shift catalyst supplier for your hydrogen, ammonia or chemical production plant?
We supply industrial carbon monoxide shift catalysts for converting CO and steam into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Our product range includes high-temperature, low-temperature and sulfur-tolerant shift catalysts designed for different synthesis gas compositions, operating conditions and reactor requirements.
Whether you are selecting catalysts for a new processing unit, replacing an existing catalyst bed or upgrading your water-gas shift system, explore our products and request technical assistance based on your process requirements.
Request Catalyst Specifications & Pricing
The carbon monoxide shift reaction, also known as the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction, is an important step in hydrogen production and synthesis gas processing.
In this reaction, carbon monoxide reacts with steam to produce additional hydrogen and carbon dioxide:
CO + H₂O ⇌ CO₂ + H₂
This exothermic reaction reduces the CO concentration while increasing the hydrogen content of the gas stream.
In industrial plants, CO shift catalysts are selected according to reaction temperature, feed gas composition, steam availability, sulfur content and required outlet CO concentration.
Different process conditions may require high-temperature shift, low-temperature shift or sulfur-tolerant shift catalysts.
Our CO shift catalyst products support various industrial applications, including:
Hydrogen production from natural gas and other suitable feedstocks
Ammonia synthesis gas preparation
Methanol production and syngas conditioning
Coal-derived syngas processing
Refinery gas and coke oven gas conversion processes
For upstream syngas generation, explore our syngas reforming catalysts.
Our CO shift catalyst range includes iron-chromium, copper-zinc-alumina and cobalt-molybdenum formulations for different operating temperatures and feed gas compositions. These catalysts serve selected hydrogen, ammonia and methanol production processes, including new units, catalyst replacement and plant revamp projects.
Use the comparison below to identify a suitable catalyst type based on your shift stage, feedstock and operating conditions.
| Catalyst Type | High Temperature CO Shift Catalyst | Low Temperature CO Shift Catalyst | Sulfur-Tolerant CO Shift Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalyst Series | SCST-221 | SCST-231 | SCST-233 |
| Catalyst Formulation | Iron-chromium-based | Copper-zinc-alumina-based | Cobalt-molybdenum-based |
| Main Function | Initial CO conversion at high temperatures | Residual CO reduction at lower temperatures, often following high-temperature shift | CO conversion in selected sulfur-containing syngas streams |
| Operating Temperature | 300–500°C | 170–260°C | 180–450°C |
| Operating Pressure | ≤5.0 MPa | ≤5.0 MPa | ≤3.0 MPa |
| Gas Hourly Space Velocity | 500–5,000 h⁻¹ | ≤3,000 h⁻¹, dry gas | 500–3,000 h⁻¹ |
| Typical Applications | Hydrogen, ammonia and methanol processes using suitable natural gas-, refinery gas- or coke oven gas-derived syngas | Selected hydrogen, ammonia and methanol processes requiring lower outlet CO concentrations | Coal-based ammonia production and selected coal- and oil-derived syngas processes |
| Key Selection Consideration | Inlet temperature, CO conversion requirements and thermal operating conditions | Feed gas impurity limits, including sulfur ≤0.5 ppm and chloride ≤0.03 ppm | Gas composition and sulfur content; actual sulfur tolerance requires confirmation |
The operating values above are published references. Final catalyst selection should be confirmed against feed gas composition, steam/feed gas ratio, reactor conditions and the required outlet CO concentration. Review the linked product specifications to assess suitability for your process.
Not all CO shift catalysts are interchangeable. Each type has different chemical compositions, operating temperatures and feed gas requirements.
The following comparison helps industrial buyers identify suitable catalyst categories before reviewing detailed specifications.
| Comparison | High-Temperature Shift | Low-Temperature Shift | Sulfur-Tolerant Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main catalyst system | Iron-chromium | Copper-zinc-alumina | Cobalt-molybdenum |
| Reference temperature | 300–500°C | 170–260°C | 180–450°C |
| Reference pressure | ≤5.0 MPa | ≤5.0 MPa | ≤3.0 MPa |
| Main process duty | Initial CO conversion at elevated temperature | Further CO conversion at lower temperature | CO conversion in sulfur-containing gas |
| Typical feed gas | Suitable desulfurized syngas | Low-sulfur synthesis gas | Selected sulfur-containing syngas |
| Common plant applications | Hydrogen, ammonia and methanol | Hydrogen, ammonia and methanol | Coal- and oil-based ammonia and chemical plants |
Published operating ranges are product-specific reference values, not universal limits or guaranteed results. Catalyst selection requires review of the actual operating conditions.
High-temperature shift: Consider when the process requires CO conversion at elevated temperatures.
Low-temperature shift: Consider when additional CO conversion is required at lower temperatures and feed gas purity meets the catalyst requirements.
Sulfur-tolerant shift: Consider for suitable sulfur-containing synthesis gas applications, subject to catalyst chemistry and operating conditions.
Ask Our Team About CO Shift Catalyst Selection
CO shift conversion plays an important role in many industrial hydrogen production routes.
After suitable feedstock pretreatment and reforming, synthesis gas may contain significant amounts of carbon monoxide. CO shift catalysts promote the conversion of CO with steam to produce additional hydrogen.
Depending on the process design, the gas can then enter downstream purification systems such as pressure swing adsorption.
Explore related hydrogen production catalyst products and hydrogen production technology.
In conventional ammonia production based on hydrocarbon reforming, CO shift conversion helps prepare synthesis gas for downstream carbon oxide removal and ammonia synthesis.
High-temperature and low-temperature shift stages may be used together, while other process configurations can require different catalyst systems.
Catalyst selection depends on the process scheme, feedstock composition, required conversion and reactor operating conditions.
Explore related ammonia production catalysts and ammonia synthesis technology.
CO shift catalysts may be used in upstream syngas conditioning where adjustment of hydrogen and carbon oxide composition is required.
Their use depends on the synthesis gas source and the target composition required by the downstream process.
Explore our methanol synthesis catalyst products for related downstream applications.
Coal gasification can produce synthesis gas containing carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and sulfur compounds.
For suitable sulfur-containing gas streams, sulfur-tolerant shift catalysts may be considered as part of the process configuration.
The specific catalyst selection should account for sulfur content, steam ratio, reaction temperature, gas contaminants and purification requirements.
Gas derived from refinery and coke oven operations can be processed into synthesis gas for hydrogen and chemical production.
Depending on feedstock quality, pretreatment may be required before sensitive CO shift catalyst stages.
Explore our gas purification catalysts and adsorbents for related sulfur and chloride removal applications.
An Operating Example from a Large-Scale Ammonia Plant
Catalyst performance is best evaluated using actual process conditions, not laboratory activity alone.
In a documented 540,000-ton-per-year natural gas-based ammonia plant application, an upgraded low-temperature CO shift catalyst was used during a 2024 catalyst replacement.
According to the reported operating results:
Ammonia production capacity: 540,000 tons/year
Catalyst application: Low-temperature CO shift conversion
Inlet CO concentration: Approximately 2.92%
Outlet CO concentration: ≤0.15% at full load following the replacement
These results relate to the specific plant, catalyst grade and reported operating conditions. They are not universal performance guarantees.
For more information about the company's ammonia process applications, explore our ammonia synthesis technology and catalyst solutions.
For EPC contractors, engineering firms and industrial project owners, we support catalyst selection discussions for new CO shift conversion units.
Our product portfolio covers high-temperature, low-temperature and sulfur-tolerant shift catalyst applications.
Share your intended process conditions and catalyst requirements to request product data for engineering and procurement evaluation.
For existing chemical plants, scheduled catalyst replacement provides an opportunity to review current CO conversion performance and operating requirements.
Our technical team can discuss available catalyst options based on the existing shift converter configuration and process conditions.
Where standard catalyst dimensions or specifications do not fit a particular reactor, technical feasibility and available customization options can be discussed.
For specialized manufacturing needs, explore our custom catalyst manufacturing and OEM services.
Copper-based low-temperature shift catalysts are sensitive to sulfur and other contaminants. Feed gas must meet the specified impurity limits. Sulfur-tolerant catalyst systems should be evaluated separately when processing sulfur-containing syngas.
Yes. Some industrial hydrogen and ammonia production processes use high-temperature shift followed by low-temperature shift to achieve the required overall CO conversion. Other configurations may use different catalyst arrangements depending on plant design.
Possible causes include catalyst poisoning, thermal damage, unsuitable steam conditions, contamination, mechanical degradation and changes in operating parameters. A technical assessment is needed to identify the actual cause.
Please provide the feed gas composition, CO concentration, sulfur and chloride levels, operating temperature and pressure, steam-to-gas ratio, reactor dimensions, required catalyst quantity and target outlet CO concentration.
Looking for a CO shift catalyst supplier for your industrial plant?
Whether you need a high-temperature, low-temperature or sulfur-tolerant shift catalyst, our team can help review product options according to your process conditions and procurement requirements.
We welcome inquiries from:
Hydrogen production plants
Ammonia and fertilizer manufacturers
Methanol and chemical production facilities
Coal gasification and syngas processing companies
EPC contractors and industrial engineering firms
Industrial catalyst procurement and distribution companies
Tell us about your application, operating conditions and expected catalyst quantity to request relevant technical information and commercial support.
Contact
