Methanol
The core building-block feedstock for formaldehyde, acetic acid and MTBE/biodiesel production — and a widely used industrial solvent and alternative fuel worldwide.
Chelora Chemicals supplies methanol to formaldehyde, acetic-acid and fuel-blending manufacturers worldwide, with full documentation and consistent purity on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 67-56-1
- IUPAC name
- Methanol
- Molecular formula
- CH₄O
- Molecular weight
- 32.04 g/mol
- Boiling point
- 64.7 °C
- Melting point
- -97.6 °C
- UN Number
- UN 1230
- HS Code
- 2905 11
* UN 1230 (Methanol, flammable liquid, toxic) applies to standard bulk and packaged shipments; confirm the exact classification for your shipment size and destination with your regulatory affairs team.
What Methanol is used for
Methanol (methyl alcohol) is a colourless, volatile liquid fully miscible with water. It is the simplest alcohol — a single hydroxyl group on a methane backbone — produced industrially by the catalytic synthesis of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (syngas), typically derived from natural gas.
Methanol's single largest use is as the feedstock for formaldehyde production, feeding resin manufacture for wood panels, textiles and moulding compounds. It is also a core feedstock for acetic acid (via carbonylation) and MTBE and biodiesel (via esterification and etherification routes), and is widely used as an industrial solvent, antifreeze component, and alternative fuel or fuel additive in marine, automotive and power-generation applications.
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Natural Gas / Syngas the feedstock methanol is synthesised from.
- Methanol (this product) the core building-block alcohol supplied to downstream chemical plants.
- Formaldehyde, Acetic Acid, MTBE major derivatives produced from methanol. See the Formaldehyde page or the Acetic Acid page.
Handling character
Methanol is highly flammable and toxic, with serious health effects from ingestion, inhalation or skin absorption. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear, colourless liquid |
| Assay | 99.85% min (AA/chemical grade) |
| Water content | < 0.1% |
| Acetone/aldehyde content | Within producer specification |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Clear, colourless, mobile liquid |
| Boiling point | 64.7 °C |
| Melting point | -97.6 °C |
| Density | 0.792 g/cm³ |
| Water solubility | Fully miscible |
| Flash point | 11-12 °C (highly flammable) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 67-56-1 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put this alcohol to work
The simplest alcohol, and the one the global formaldehyde, acetic-acid and fuel industries are built on.
Formaldehyde production
Catalytically oxidised to formaldehyde, the base feedstock for UF, PF and MF resins.
- Chemical-grade specification
- Bulk & drum supply
- Technical desk review on request
Acetic acid & MTBE feedstock
Carbonylated to acetic acid, or etherified to MTBE for fuel-oxygenate production.
- Industrial-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Biodiesel production
Used in transesterification of vegetable oils and fats to produce biodiesel (FAME).
- Packs sized to customer volumes
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Industrial solvent
Widely used as a solvent in paints, coatings, adhesives and chemical processing.
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Alternative fuel & fuel additive
Used directly as a marine and power-generation fuel, and as a gasoline-blending component.
- Fuel-grade specification
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
Formaldehyde and acetic-acid plants running continuous consumption are supported with scheduled bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Methanol
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Water content and trace-impurity levels are critical to downstream formaldehyde and acetic-acid quality — that shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm your jurisdiction's import requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem.
- Purity and water content confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to downstream formaldehyde and acetic-acid quality.
- UN 1230 documentation managed end to end. Classification, labelling and carrier compliance confirmed before booking.
- Scheduled call-off scheduling. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Fuel-grade and AA-grade both sourced. Matched precisely to your downstream process.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Drum, tote or bulk tank — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
200-litre drums
Steel or plastic drums for smaller-volume orders and trial quantities.
~1,000 litre totes
Returnable or one-way IBC totes sized for mid-volume converter orders.
Large-volume bulk shipment
ISO tank or flexi-tank bulk shipment for continuous-consumption chemical and fuel-blending plants.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for process trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
Highly flammable and toxic — handle accordingly
Methanol's effects from ingestion, inhalation or skin absorption can be severe and irreversible, including blindness. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H225Highly flammable liquid and vapour.H301Toxic if swallowed.H311Toxic in contact with skin.H331Toxic if inhaled.H370Causes damage to organs (eyes).
Keep away from ignition sources and food-grade materials. Always read the SDS issued with your specific batch and store accordingly.
Storage
Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, segregated from oxidisers and ignition sources, with appropriate bunding for bulk tanks.
Handling
Use standard PPE (gloves, eye/face protection, respiratory protection where ventilation is limited) for liquid transfer. Bond and ground equipment during transfer to control static discharge; avoid inhalation and skin contact.
Transport
Shipped as UN 1230 (Methanol, flammable liquid, toxic), Packing Group II. We confirm and document exact classification for your specific shipment and destination.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Assay, water content and trace-impurity limits confirmed against your process requirement before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS and transport paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How methanol is made
Methanol is produced industrially by the catalytic synthesis of synthesis gas (carbon monoxide and hydrogen), typically derived from steam reforming of natural gas, over a copper-zinc-alumina catalyst at elevated pressure and temperature. This is a long-established route in petrochemical chemistry.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Primary alcohol |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | One primary hydroxyl group |
| Reactivity | Oxidises to formaldehyde; carbonylates to acetic acid; esterifies/etherifies |
| Related compounds | Formaldehyde, Acetic Acid (derivatives); Natural Gas (feedstock) |
Explore the wider petrochemical range
Methanol, answered
What is Methanol used for?
How is methanol related to formaldehyde?
Is Methanol hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
- Need a related intermediate? See our Formaldehyde and Acetic Acid pages.
Get a quote on Methanol today
Send us your required grade, pack size and delivery window. We will come back with a firm quote, lead time and full documentation.