This study investigated how to minimize carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from charcoal by impregnating with Pd-Sn/alumina and Cu-Mn/graphite. Samples were heated isothermally with continuous monitoring of residual CO using electrochemical and infra-red sensors. With 0.2 wt% Pd-Sn/alumina, 26.9% and 44.4% were recorded as lowest and highest residual CO. On the other hand, when 2 wt% Cu-Mn/graphite was used, 15.6%, and 25.3% were observed as lowest and highest residual CO. The activity of the catalysts decreased with temperature and increased with catalyst loading. This method could be used on briquettes, wood boiler chips and other solid carbonaceous materials to minimise CO emissions.