Methanol is a liquid chemical with the formula CH3OH (often abbreviated MeOH). It is colorless, volatile, flammable, and poisonous. Methanol is made from the destructive distillation of wood and is chiefly synthesized from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Its principal uses are in organic synthesis, as a fuel, solvent, and antifreeze.
Methanol is a polar liquid at room temperature. It is used as antifreeze, solvent, fuel, and as a denaturant for ethanol. The chemical is also used to produce biodiesel via transesterification reaction. Because methanol has toxic properties, it is frequently used as a denaturant additive for ethanol manufactured for industrial purposes. Methanol is frequently called wood alcohol because it was once produced primarily as a byproduct of the destructive distillation of wood.
Methanol can be produced from Natural Gas, Indian High Ash Coal, Bio-mass, MSW, stranded and flared gases and India can achieve (through right technology adaptation} to produce Methanol from Indian coal and all other feedstock. The best part world is already moving towards renewable methanol from C02 and the perpetual recycling of C02 into Methanol, say C02 emitted from Steel plants, Geothermal energy or any other source of C02, effectively "Air to Methanol".
During the last few years, the use of methanol and DME as fuel has increased significantly. Methanol demand is growing at a robust 6 to 8 % annually. World has installed capacity of 120 MT of Methanol and will be about 200 MT by 2025.
Currently Methanol accounts for almost 9% of transport fuel in China. They have converted millions of vehicles running on Methanol. China alone produces 65% of world Methanol and it uses its coal to produce Methanol. Israel, Italy have adopted the Methanol 15% blending program with Petrol and fast moving towards M85 & M100. Japan, Korea have extensive Methanol & DME usage and Australia has adopted GEM fuels (Gasoline, Ethanol & Methanol) and blends almost 56% Methanol. Methanol has become the choice of fuel in Marine Sector worldwide and countries like Sweden are at the forefront of usage. Large passenger ships carrying more than 1500 people are already running on 100% Methanol. African and many Caribbean countries have adopted Methanol cooking fuel and across the world Gensets and industrial boilers are running on Methanol, instead of diesel.
Methanol consumption in India has skyrocketed in comparison to production and is dominated by imports. Given the global dynamics of this market, price volatility is a regular feature. Investment opportunity exists for a capacity of over a million tons in India. Methanol is one of the major chemicals traded in the Indian market. The demand for methanol has considerably grown at a decent growth rate of 6.4% from the fiscal year 2011-12 to 2016-17. Demand is expected to grow at about 6.9% per annum over the period of 2016-17 to 2021-22. As demand growth out-paces production, imports will increase substantially during this period.
Few Indian major players are as under
Ahmedabad Manufacturing & Calico Prtg. Co. Ltd.
Assam Petrochemicals Ltd.
Assurgen Pharma Pvt. Ltd.
Deepak Fertilisers & Petrochemicals Corpn. Ltd.
I N A India Ltd.
