Methanol, used to be ... and now ... ..!

        Methanol or better known as wood alcohol or methyl alcohol is the simplest alcohol derivatives. Methanol is a colorless liquid, volatile and flammable.
Actually, methanol has been developed since 1923. Process technology was first developed by BASF is the High Pressure. M. Pier, which is incorporated by BASFberhasil producing methanol synthesis with the pressure of 1000 bars by using a zinc catalyst cromate. The first synthesis of methanol factory was built in Leuna, Germany. America itself metanolnya factory building in 1926. Unfortunately, in the year 1930-1935 production drastically decreased methanol synthesis gas because it is intended for the synthesis of ammonia.
The development process of purification and hydrocarbon-based gasification latest turning point of methanol production. ICI developed a low-pressure process technology. His factory was established at Billingham in 1966. Furthermore, methanol technology is growing, such as Lurgi CORP., Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, etc.. Each licensee continues to develop a process that they have, starting from the activation of the catalyst, the utilization of CO 2, purification and methanol synthesis reactor.
Methanol can be synthesized not only from natural gas but also from coal. methanol from coal is even more simple and easy. Pulverisasi coal and cleaned and fed to the gasifier bed. This coal is reacted with oxygen and steam to produce synthesis gas. The next production is typically the same as the manufacture of methanol from natural gas. It's just making methanol from coal is slightly more expensive than the process that made from raw natural gas.
Methanol is used as feedstock for chemicals such as formaldehyde and methyl tertiary butyl ether, as a mixture of environmentally friendly fuels. Methanol is also developed as a fuel cell. In the future methanol can also be used as biosubstrat.