METHANOL

What is Methanol?

Methanol is a light, colorless, flammable liquid chemical composed of four hydrogen atoms, one carbon atom and one oxygen atom. Methanol is a versatile molecule leading to hundreds of value chains from which modern day consumer goods are produced. It is a feedstock for industrial production of a wide range of chemicals from solvents, adhesives for forestry and plastics. Methanol is also used in Energy applications, namely gasoline blending, feedstock for biodiesel, dimethyl ether (DME) and olefins (Methanol to Olefin, namely MTO).

Although it has been largely manufactured from natural gas, nowadays the production from coal gasification or from cock oven gas, which is a by-product from cock oven plant, are increasing in areas where coal is abundant, mostly in China.

Methanol is not only a basic chemical in chemical industry, but also an important product in energy sector, since they utilize natural gas or coal as raw material and broadening its position in energy use. The versatility of methanol has become strategically important in serving the needs of our modern world, covering from chemicals to energy sector.