10 Interesting Facts about Methanol

By reading this article you will know the interesting facts about methanol. Methanol or other names is methyl alcohol is a chemical with the formula CH₃OH ( a methyl group linked to a hydroxyl group, often abbreviated MeOH). Here are the other information about methanol.

Facts 1 : The Other Names of Methanol

Methanol has many other names, such as carbinol, columbian spirits, hyfroxymethane, MeOH, Methyl Alcohol, Methyl Hydrate, Methyl Hydroxide, Methylol, Pyroligeneous spirit, wood alcohol, wood naphtha and wood spirit.

Facts 2 : Occurrence

The healthy and normal condition of human has a few amounts of methanol in the body. Methanol is produced by anaerobic bacteria and phytoplankton.

Methanol

Facts 3 : Interstellar Medium

Interestingly, methanol also found in abundant quantities in star-forming regions of space and is used in astronomy as a marker for such regions.

In 2006, the astronomers used the MERLIN array of radio telescopes at Jodrell Bank Observatory and discovered a large cloud of methanol in space, 288 billion miles across.

Facts 4 : Toxicity

Even though methanol has low toxicity in the human body, it is stil dangerous because it is occasionally ingested in large volumes, often together with ethanol. As low as 10 mL of pure methanol can cause permanent blindness by destruction of the optic nerve.

methanol is toxic that contain two mechanism. First, methanol can be fatal due to effects on the central nervous system. Second, in a process of toxication, it is metabolised to formic acid through formaldehyde in a process initiated by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase in the liver.

Facts 5 : Formaldehyde, Acetic Acid, Methyltert-butylether

The methanol that converted to formaldehyde is widely used in polymers.

Facts 6 : Methanol to Hydrocarbons, Olefins, Gasoline

Hydrocarbons that derives from methanol is the basis of several technologies related to gas to liquids.

Methanol

Facts 7 : Gasoline Additive

Amazingly, methanol used as a transportation fuel in low level blends of gasoline. In China uses more than 4.5 billion liters of methanol per year as a transportation fuel.

Facts 8 : Energy Carrier

Methanol is widely used for energy carrier because it is easier to store than hydrogen and natural gas.

Facts 9 : Other Applications of Methanol

Methanol is useful in daily needs. it is used as a solvent and as an antifreeze in pipeline and windshield washer fluid. Methanol was used as an automobile coolant antifreeze in the early 1900s.

In some wastewater treatment plants, a few amount of methanol is added to wastewater to provide a carbon food source for the denitrifying bacteria, that convert nitrates to nitrogen gas and reduce the nitrification of sensitive aquifers.

In addition, methanol that mixed with water and injected into high performance diesel and gasoline engines for increase of power and decrease intake air temperature in a process known as water methanol injection.