Methanol is a type of alcohol (also known as wood alcohol and methyl alcohol) that is mostly used to produce fuel, solvents, and antifreeze. A colorless, volatile, flammable liquid, unlike ethanol, it is toxic for human consumption. Methanol is also used to produce a variety of other chemicals, including acetic acid.
Small amounts of methanol are naturally present in many living organisms as part of their metabolic processes. For example, methanol is found naturally in many fruits and vegetables.
Method of production:
This fuel is generally produced by steam reforming natural gas to create synthesis gas. Feeding this synthesis gas to a reactor with a catalyst produces methanol and steam. Various feedstocks can produce methanol, but natural gas is currently the most cost-effective.
Advantages of use:
Methanol can be an alternative to conventional transportation fuels. The advantages of methanol are:
Lower production costs – Methanol is cheaper to produce than other alternative fuels.
Improved safety – Methanol has a lower flammability risk than gasoline.
Increased energy security – Methanol can be produced from a variety of domestic carbon-based feedstocks such as biomass, natural gas, and coal.
Antifreeze:
Methanol has chemical properties that allow it to lower the freezing point of aqueous liquids and increase their boiling point. These properties make methanol to be used as an antifreeze in windshield washer fluid so that the cleaning fluid does not freeze. It is also injected into natural gas pipelines to lower the freezing point of water during oil and gas transportation.
Halal:
Methanol is primarily used as an industrial solvent to produce inks, resins, adhesives, and paints. It is also used as a solvent in the manufacture of important pharmaceutical substances and products such as cholesterol, streptomycin, vitamins and hormones.
Fuel:
Approximately 45% of methanol produced in the world is used in energy-related applications. Methanol can be used as a type of automotive fuel or marine fuel for boats. It can also be blended with gasoline to produce an efficient fuel called methyl butyl ether (MTBE), which has lower emissions than regular gasoline. Methanol is also used in biodiesel, a renewable fuel made from vegetable or animal fats that can be used in place of or blended with conventional fuel.
Food:
Methanol occurs naturally in many foods, including fruits and vegetables. Dietary methanol helps regulate human gene activity. It is also produced in the human digestive system to help metabolize food.
