Methanol is a toxic, colorless, flammable liquid alcohol that is also known as wood alcohol, methyl alcohol, or wood spirits. It is used as an antifreeze, solvent, and fuel. Methanol can be produced from natural gas, biomass, waste products, or directly from methane through various processes like destructive distillation of wood, synthesis gas reforming, or new photo-electrochemical methods. While methanol has some advantages as a fuel, including high octane rating and ability to use various resources, it also has disadvantages like lower energy content than gasoline and is corrosive. Current production of methanol is not high enough to replace petroleum fuels for transportation on a large scale.

1. METHANOL
Cody Potyczka
4/25/2014
Auto 480-002

2. What is Methanol?
• Toxic, colorless, flammable liquid alcohol
• Also known as:
– Wood Alcohol
– Methyl Alcohol
– Wood Spirits
• Used to denature Ethanol
• Multiple Uses:
• Antifreeze
• Solvents
• Fuels

3. Advantages of Methanol
• High Octane Rating
• Availability of resources to produce Methanol
• Dispensed same as gasoline
• Can be used in multiple applications

4. Disadvantages of Methanol
• Lower energy content than Gasoline
• Petroleum fuels being established
• Corrosive
• Methanol blended with gasoline is volatile
• High Flashpoint

5. What is it made from?
• Natural Gas
• Feed Stocks
– Biomass
– Agricultural/Timber Waste
– Solid Municipal Waste
• Industrial Processes
• Produce excess CO2 from burning of Fossil Fuels

6. Different ways it’s produced
• Destructive Distillation of Wood
• From Synthesis Gas
• Direct catalytic conversion of Methane

7. Reformation of Synthesize Gas
• Requires carbon dioxide, hydrogen and a
catalyst
• Requires elevated temperatures
• Very high pressures
• Efficiency can be improved with simple
processes

8. Advance Catalyst
Reformation
• Same technique as stated before
• Increased efficiency
• Lower temperatures
• Lower pressures
• New Catalyst – Nickel-Gallium
• Old Catalyst – Copper-Zinc-Aluminum

9. Photo-electrochemical
(photosynthesis)
• New process for producing methanol
• Doesn’t require high temps/pressures
• Very little energy input
• Uses 2 copper oxides and CO2 combined with
sunlight
• Currently under testing with hopes to be
scaled up to industrial scale

10. Methanol: Alternative to Petroleum?
• Currently not enough production to meet
demand
• Not a new technology but wasn’t a
transportation fuel source
• Production of methanol worldwide only about
a quarter of what US used in gasoline (2013)
• Price per gallon - $1.13 or $3.00 equivalent to
gasoline

11. Direct Methanol Fuel Cells
• Same concept as hydrogen fuel cells
• Advantage
– Fuel stored as liquid
– High energy density
• Disadvantage
– Not as efficient as pure hydrogen fuel cells
– Currently not suitable for power vehicle
• Used by military for tactical equipment, portable
chargers
• Can be used for small vehicles – forklifts, tuggers

12. Other uses of Methanol
• Wastewater Denitrification
• Biodiesel Transesterification
• Electricity Generation
• Chemical Feedstock
– Plastics
– Paints
– Adhesives
– Windshield Washer Fluid
– Insulation

13. Works Cited
• Shwartz, M. (2014, March 2). Newly discovered catalyst could lead to the low-cost, clean production of
methanol, scientists say. Stanford News. Retrieved April 22, 2014, from
http://news.stanford.edu/pr/2014/pr-methanol-new-catalyst-030214.html
• Govers III, F. X. (2013, April 13). Simpler, cheaper way to make liquid methanol fuel using CO2 and sunlight.
Simpler, cheaper way to make liquid methanol fuel using CO2 and sunlight. Retrieved April 22, 2014, from
http://www.gizmag.com/photochemical-photosynthesis-uta-co2-methanol/26766/
• Alternative Energy. (2009, April 25). AENews. Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://www.alternative-
energy-news.info/new-way-to-convert-co2-into-methanol/
• Renacin. (2013, May 6). The Synthesis of Methanol: An Equilibrium. Grade 12U ChemistrySystems and
Equilibrium. Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://fmss12ucheme.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/the-
synthesis-of-methanol-an-equilibrium/comment-page-1/
• How is Methanol Made?. (2011, January 1). - Methanol Institute. Retrieved April 22, 2014, from
http://www.methanol.org/methanol-basics/overview/how-is-methanol-made-.aspx
• Ridge, T., & Peters, M. (2012, February 23). The Methanol Alternative to Gasoline. The Opinion Pages.
Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/opinion/methanol-as-an-alternative-
to-gasoline.html?_r=0
• Average Gas Prices | Weekly Price of Regular & Diesel Fuel - Consumer Reports. (2014, April 1). Average
Gas Prices | Weekly Price of Regular & Diesel Fuel . Retrieved April 23, 2014, from
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/11/average-gas-prices/index.htm
• Methanol, a Potentially Renewable Energy Resource. (n.d.). Advantages and drawbacks. Retrieved April
23, 2014, from http://www.extraordinaryroadtrip.org/research-library/technology/methanol/ad-draw.asp
• Fuller, J. (2008, August 18). HowStuffWorks "Methanol Fuel Cells and Portable
Electronics". HowStuffWorks. Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/mp3-
player-methanol1.htm