Methanol
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| Chemical formula | CH3OH |
|---|---|
| OTP appearance | clear liquid |
| Molar Mass(g/mol) | 32.04 |
| Density(g/cc) | 0.7918 |
| Melting Point(°C) | -97.6 |
| Boiling Point(°C) | 64.7 |
| Fuel Value(MJ/kg) | 22.7 |
| Solubility in water(g/L) | miscible |
| NFPA 704 |  3
1
0
|
Methanol, sometimes written MeOH, is a toxic alcohol. Not to be confused with ethanol, which is consumed by humans for recreational purposes.
Uses
Primary
- Primary feedstock for much organic chemistry
- Feedstock for formaldehyde
- Solvent
Secondary
- Fuel
Natural occurrence
- Methanol does occur naturally as a secondary metabolite of some monads when they consume pectin, among other things.[1][2]
- Methanol is also produced by the action of endogenous pectinase and pectinesterase on pectin.
Hazards
- Ingestion of one mouthful can cause pseudoglaucomatous optic neuropathy (partial or complete blindness) and other neurological problems
Production
Extraction
Biosynthesis
Pectin methyl esterase (PME) from orange (Citrus sinensis L.) fruit peels has a 36-kDa protein with an isoelectric point >9, a pH optimum at 7 and temperature optimum at 50 °C.[3]
Synthesis
from chloromethane
Heat chloromethane and sodium hydroxide, giving methanol
- CH3Cl + NaOH{H2OCH3OH + NaClheat}→
from methyl esters
- Reflux methyl salicylate or pectin with sodium hydroxide, producing methanol and sodium salicylate or sodium galactate
- NaOH(aq) + C8H8O3{CH3OH + NaC7H5O3reflux}→
- NaOH(aq) + C8H8O3
- Distill off Methanol ( water azeotrope 65-95°C )
from producer gas
- From producer gas[4]
- CO + 2 H2 → CH3OHΔH=-21.66
- CO2 + 3 H2 → CH3OH + H2OΔH=-11.83
- High Pressure: 35MPa, 450°C; ZnO.CrO3 catalyst
- Low pressure: 5-10MPa; 200-280°C; Cu.Zn.Al2O3 (65/25/10) catalyst
Testing
Purification
- Separation from ethanol
- Complexes with calcium chloride
- CaCl2•4CH3OH and CaCl2·3 CH3OH at different temperatures.
- Complexes with calcium chloride
Storage
Disposal
See Also
References
- ↑ Siragusa, R J; Cerda, J J; Baig, M M; Burgin, C W; Robbins, F L (1988) "Methanol production from the degradation of pectin by human colonic bacteria".
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 47(5); pp848–851. - ↑ Taher, Edris; Chandran, Kartik (2013) "High-Rate, High-Yield Production of Methanol by Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria".; pp3167–3173.
Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 500 West 120th Street, New York, New York 10027, United States
DOI:10.1021/es3042912 - ↑ Tove, M. I. E; ChristensenJohn, E.; NielsenJette, D.; et al (1998) "Pectin methyl esterase from orange fruit: characterization and localization by in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry"
Planta 206(4); pp493–503.
link courtesy Springer. - ↑ LeBlanc, J.R.; Schneider, Robert III; Strait, Richard B. "Production of Methanol"
link courtesy M.W. Kellogg Company, Houston, TX.