What are the uses of methanol?
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I knew methanol was used to produce formaldehyde and acetic acid, and MTBE – but what else can it be used for? Can we digest that much output?
Methanol is used to produce formaldehyde (which accounts for half of methanol’s applications), methylamine, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), dimethyl ether, and cellulose. As a methylation reagent, methanol can be used to manufacture methyl acrylate, dimethyl terephthalate, methylamine, **amines, methane chlorides, and other substances； Methanol carbonylation can produce important organic synthesis intermediates such as acetic acid, acetic anhydride, and methyl formate, which serve as raw materials for manufacturing various dyes, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, fragrances, and spray paints. Methanol can also be used to produce important products such as ethanol, ethylene, ethylene glycol, ethyl acetate, acetic anhydride, methyl formate, and methanol resins that are prone to decomposition. It can also be used as a solvent for dyes, resins, synthetic leather, sealing films, cellophane, spray paints, etc., as well as a remover for paints and pigments, and as an intermediate in organic synthesis. New uses: methanol gasoline, methanol-to-olefins. This post was last edited by hgshy on 2009-3-19 21:00]
Methanol to dimethyl ether – a potential alternative fuel to liquefied gas
Methanol has a wide range of uses; in addition to serving as an excellent solvent for many organic compounds, it is primarily used in the industrial production of synthetic fibers, formaldehyde, plastics, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, dyes, and synthetic proteins. It is a fundamental raw material in organic chemical manufacturing. Methanol can be mixed with gasoline (diesel) or other substances to create new types of fuels for industrial or domestic use, with various applications. A mixture of methanol and gasoline can be used as fuel in the transportation sector.