About methanol
The versatile molecule driving the global energy transition
Methanol (CH3OH), also known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol, is the simplest alcohol: a clear, colorless, water-soluble liquid chemical. Today methanol is produced mainly from natural gas and coal, and increasingly from renewable feedstocks such as biomass and captured carbon dioxide combined with green hydrogen.
Methanol is one of the most widely traded and used commodities. More than 110 million tonnes are produced globally each year and used across a wide range of industries, from manufacturing and construction to transport and power generation.
Its versatility, established global supply chain, and ability to be produced from multiple feedstocks are helping expand its use as industries look to reduce emissions and diversify their energy sources.
Explore the pages below to learn what methanol is, how it is produced, and why it is being deployed across transport, industry, and energy systems.
Methanol at a glance
| Chemical formula | CH3OH (CH4O) |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 32.04 g/mol |
| Appearance | Clear, colorless liquid |
| Density | 0.792 g/cm3 at 20 °C |
| Boiling point | 64.7 °C |
| Freezing point | −97.6 °C |
| Vapour pressure | 12.8 kPa at 20 °C |
| Flash point | 11–12 °C |
| Autoignition temperature | 470 °C |
| Flammable limits in air | 6.0–36.5 % v/v |
| Energy content | 19.9 MJ/kg (lower heating value) |
The full figures are in MI’s data sheets: Physical properties of pure methanol, Methanol technical data sheet, Densities of methanol–water solutions, Freezing points of methanol–water solutions and Boiling and flash points of methanol–water solutions (PDF). More in the technical library.
