Methanol is one of the most versatile industrial chemicals — a feedstock for formaldehyde and acetic acid, a fuel component, and a building block for dozens of derivatives.
Methanol (CH₃OH) is a colourless, water-soluble liquid and one of the highest-volume building blocks in the global chemical industry. Its value comes from being both a versatile feedstock and a clean-burning fuel component.
Chemical feedstock
The largest share of methanol demand goes into making other chemicals. The most important derivative is formaldehyde, which in turn feeds resins used in wood panels, coatings and moulding compounds.
Methanol is also converted into acetic acid, a key input for polymers, adhesives and textiles, and is the primary feedstock for MTBE, a high-octane gasoline component.
- Formaldehyde production
- Acetic acid manufacture
- MTBE and other fuel ethers
- Dimethyl ether (DME) and olefins
Solvents and intermediates
Because it dissolves a wide range of substances, methanol is used as an industrial solvent and as a reaction medium and intermediate in pharmaceutical and specialty-chemical synthesis.
Fuel and energy
Methanol burns cleanly and is used directly as a fuel, as a blending component, and increasingly as a lower-carbon marine fuel. Fuel-grade methanol is optimised for these energy applications.
Choosing the right grade
Chemical synthesis typically calls for high-purity AA-grade methanol, while blending and energy uses can use fuel-grade product. Matching grade to application avoids over-specifying and controls cost.