13
METHANOL Cody Potyczka 4/25/2014 Auto 480-002
2. What is Methanol? Toxic, colorless, flammable liquid alcohol Also known as: Wood Alcohol Methyl Alcohol Wood Spirits Used to denature Ethanol Multiple Uses: Antifreeze Solvents Fuels 3. Advantages of Methanol High Octane Rating Availability of resources to produce Methanol Dispensed same as gasoline Can be used in multiple applications 4. Disadvantages of Methanol Lower energy content than Gasoline Petroleum fuels being established Corrosive Methanol blended with gasoline is volatile High Flashpoint 5. What is it made from? Natural Gas Feed Stocks Biomass Agricultural/Timber Waste Solid Municipal Waste Industrial Processes Produce excess CO2 from burning of Fossil Fuels 6. Different ways its produced Destructive Distillation of Wood From Synthesis Gas Direct catalytic conversion of Methane 7. Reformation of Synthesize Gas Requires carbon dioxide, hydrogen and a catalyst Requires elevated temperatures Very high pressures Efficiency can be improved with simple processes 8. Advance Catalyst Reformation Same technique as stated before Increased efficiency Lower temperatures Lower pressures New Catalyst Nickel-Gallium Old Catalyst Copper-Zinc-Aluminum 9. Photo-electrochemical (photosynthesis) New process for producing methanol Doesnt require high temps/pressures Very little energy input Uses 2 copper oxides and CO2 combined with sunlight Currently under testing with hopes to be scaled up to industrial scale 10. Methanol: Alternative to Petroleum? Currently not enough production to meet demand Not a new technology but wasnt a transportation fuel source Production of methanol worldwide only about a quarter of what US used in gasoline (2013) Price per gallon - $1.13 or $3.00 equivalent to gasoline 11. Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Same concept as hydrogen fuel cells Advantage Fuel stored as liquid High energy density Disadvantage Not as efficient as pure hydrogen fuel cells Currently not suitable for power vehicle Used by military for tactical equipment, portable chargers Can be used for small vehicles forklifts, tuggers 12. Other uses of Methanol Wastewater Denitrification Biodiesel Transesterification Electricity Generation Chemical Feedstock Plastics Paints Adhesives Windshield Washer Fluid Insulation 13. Works Cited Shwartz, M. (2014, March 2). Newly discovered catalyst could lead to the low-cost, clean production of methanol, scientists say. Stanford News. Retrieved April 22, 2014, from http://news.stanford.edu/pr/2014/pr-methanol-new-catalyst-030214.html Govers III, F. X. (2013, April 13). Simpler, cheaper way to make liquid methanol fuel using CO2 and sunlight. Simpler, cheaper way to make liquid methanol fuel using CO2 and sunlight. Retrieved April 22, 2014, from http://www.gizmag.com/photochemical-photosynthesis-uta-co2-methanol/26766/ Alternative Energy. (2009, April 25). AENews. Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://www.alternative- energy-news.info/new-way-to-convert-co2-into-methanol/ Renacin. (2013, May 6). The Synthesis of Methanol: An Equilibrium. Grade 12U ChemistrySystems and Equilibrium. Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://fmss12ucheme.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/the- synthesis-of-methanol-an-equilibrium/comment-page-1/ How is Methanol Made?. (2011, January 1). - Methanol Institute. Retrieved April 22, 2014, from http://www.methanol.org/methanol-basics/overview/how-is-methanol-made-.aspx Ridge, T., & Peters, M. (2012, February 23). The Methanol Alternative to Gasoline. The Opinion Pages. Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/opinion/methanol-as-an-alternative- to-gasoline.html?_r=0 Average Gas Prices | Weekly Price of Regular & Diesel Fuel - Consumer Reports. (2014, April 1). Average Gas Prices | Weekly Price of Regular & Diesel Fuel . Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/11/average-gas-prices/index.htm Methanol, a Potentially Renewable Energy Resource. (n.d.). Advantages and drawbacks. Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://www.extraordinaryroadtrip.org/research-library/technology/methanol/ad-draw.asp Fuller, J. (2008, August 18). HowStuffWorks "Methanol Fuel Cells and Portable Electronics". HowStuffWorks. Retrieved April 23, 2014, from http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/mp3- player-methanol1.htm
