About Methanol

Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, is the simplest alcohol with the chemical formula CH₃OH. It is a colourless, volatile liquid that is completely miscible with water and most organic solvents. It is one of the most widely traded chemical commodities globally, serving as both a chemical building block and fuel component across numerous industries.

Methanol Uses

Formaldehyde and Chemical Production

The largest application of methanol is as a feedstock for producing formaldehyde, which accounts for approximately 30-40% of global methanol consumption. Formaldehyde is essential in manufacturing resins for plywood, particleboard, and MDF used in construction and furniture. Methanol is also converted into acetic acid, dimethyl ether (DME), methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), methyl methacrylate (MMA) for acrylic plastics, and methylamines for pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.

Biodiesel and Fuel Applications

Methanol serves as a key feedstock in biodiesel production through transesterification of vegetable oils and animal fats to produce fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). It is blended with gasoline as an octane enhancer, used as racing fuel in motorsports, and employed in direct methanol fuel cells for portable power generation. The shipping industry is exploring methanol as a cleaner marine fuel alternative to heavy fuel oil.

Industrial Solvent

Methanol is used as a solvent in pharmaceutical manufacturing, fine chemical production, and extraction of plant-based oils and active ingredients. It serves as a reaction medium in esterification and alkylation processes, is employed in electronics manufacturing for cleaning semiconductor components, and is used in printing inks as a fast-evaporating solvent. Methanol also functions as a denaturant for industrial ethanol.

Antifreeze and De-Icing

Methanol is a key ingredient in windshield washer fluids, providing freeze protection and effective cleaning in sub-zero temperatures. It is used in de-icing fluids for aircraft and runways, injected into natural gas pipelines to prevent hydrate formation in cold climates, and employed in industrial refrigeration systems and heat transfer fluids.

Wastewater Treatment

Methanol is widely used in wastewater treatment as a carbon source for denitrification processes, where bacteria convert nitrate to nitrogen gas. Municipal and industrial wastewater treatment facilities employ methanol to enhance biological nutrient removal, particularly in plants treating high-nitrogen wastewater from agricultural or industrial sources.

Methanol Supplier Australia, USA & More!

Redox are trusted, authorised suppliers of Methanol. With distribution centres worldwide, we can supply to Australia, USA, UK, NZ, Europe, Asia and more. Get in touch with our expert team, who can help you order the right product, form and amount for your needs.