[Gasification] A question about methanol production and use

[Bill Klein]

Thank you for the explanation. I appreciate it! bk 


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Greg and April" <gregandapril at earthlink.net>
To: "Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification" <gasification at listserv.repp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 9:08 PM
Subject: Re: [Gasification] A question about methanol production and use


Methanol is a precursor chemical for so many other industrial chemicals that 
it's use as a motor fuel is almost  minor in comparison.    It's easier to 
get a proper reaction when making biodiesel with methanol than with ethanol.

Even used as a motor fuel, there are ways to make it burn as clean ( or 
cleaner than ) ethanol.    One way is to run it through a catalizer, that 
causes the methanol to break down into CO and H2, which is then burned.


As a fuel for fuel cells, it in many ways is second to only hydrogen.


Research has also shown it to be useful as a carbon source for plants during 
times, when high heat levels have the stoma of the leaves closed in order to 
conserve moisture.    In a nut shell, the stoma, act as the lungs of the 
plant, and when it becomes to hot & dry they close off to conserve moisture, 
and in doing so, they can't take in CO2, so it drastically slows the growth 
of the plant.

The problem with many engines these days, is that many parts of them ( and 
part's of the fuel system ), are made with aluminum, and it mostly the 
aluminum that reacts with the methanol.    The 'rubber' seals & gaskets are 
also degraded, but, most of this issue is an issue found primarily with 
older vehicles - most new vehicles are already made with synthetic seals and 
gaskets that can withstand the effects of methanol, because they do a better 
job for normal applications than 'rubber' does anyway.


Amateur fuel makers keep looking at it ( even if they don't have the funds 
to do anything about it ), because unlike ethanol, the BATF doesn't care to 
much, how much you make, before you start having to play with permits, and 
fees, inspections to make sure it's properly denatured ( or else it's taxed 
at something like $50 / gal as if it was drinking quality ).


Greg H.



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Klein" <Bill_Klein at 3iAlternativePower.com>
To: "Discussion of biomass pyrolysis and gasification" 
<gasification at listserv.repp.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 16:14
Subject: [Gasification] A question about methanol production and use


>
> Hello and Happy New Year to each of you!
>
> I have a question and, though I have asked several colleagues, haven't yet 
> received an answer with which I can reconcile with greenhouse gas emission 
> concerns or the climate change phenomena of which so many profess concern.
>
> Why do we want to make methanol?
>
> Am I not correct in my understanding that, when methanol is used as a fuel 
> for an internal combustion engine, one of the primary exhaust gases is 
> formalin, a gas that easily liquefies into formaldehyde?
>
> Why would we want that in our atmosphere? Granted, the percentages are 
> low, but, then, so are the percentages of gain of carbon dioxide.
>
> Further, does not methanol create problems within the engine and lube 
> system?
>
>
> Thank you.
>
> Bill Klein
>
>


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