Where is methanol used?

In the chemical industry, methanol is an important raw material for syntheses. Methanol is also the base for various primary derivatives such as formaldehyde, acetic acid, MTBE, methyl methacrylate, methyl chloride, methylamine as well as secondary or tertiary derivatives such as vinyl acetate, acetic anhydride, phenol-formaldehyde resins or melamine resins.

Methanol is probably more well-known as a solvent, antifreeze agent or coolant and as a solvent for resins, waxes or inorganic salts. It is also very frequently used in digital camera sensor cleaning because it does not leave streaks and evaporates without leaving a residue.

Wastewater treatment plants use methanol as an additional energy supplier for bacterial metabolic processes in the conversion of nitrate to gaseous nitrogen. Waste processing uses methanol for the solvolytic recycling of polyethylene terephthalate; the plastics industry uses it for the separation of polystyrene and chloroprene rubber from polymeric compounds. In addition, methanol is even used in the food industry in, for example, the production of vitamin products.

What makes methanol a “fuel of the future”?

Pure methanol has multiple advantages. It is easily flammable and burns cleanly in the air and without a visible flame in reaction to carbon dioxide and water. Technical methanol reduces the heating and calorific values as it has a considerably higher water content than conventional fuels. Methanol has a high knock resistance. This significantly reduces the risk of spontaneous ignition of the fuel in methanol which allows for a higher compression ratio compared to standard gasoline and diesel engines.

A true “miracle product”: Theoretically, methanol could replace all liquid fuels currently in use. Indeed, the production of pure methanol is, however, costly and handling it is not harmless which is why innovative fuel concepts are, for the moment, still in the developmental phase. With SCHERZINGER, you are always on the safe side: On one hand, because we are constantly engaged in creating innovative products, materials and substances and, on the other hand, because we perfect every pump solution down to its smallest detail – for the highest quality in novel and not easy-to-process substances. With us, you can bet on the future. Please feel free to ask us how we accomplish the extraordinary high product quality required here.