Methanol is a toxic alcohol used industrially as a solvent, pesticide and as an alternative fuel source. It also occurs naturally in humans, animals and plants.
Methanol is a liquid chemical with the formula CH3OH (often abbreviated MeOH). It is colorless, volatile, flammable and toxic. Methanol is produced by dry distillation of wood, mainly synthesized from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Its main use is in organic synthesis, as a fuel, solvent and antifreeze.

Methanol is a polar liquid at room temperature. Used as a denaturant for antifreeze, solvents, fuels and ethanol. The chemical is also used to produce biodiesel through transesterification.

Because of its toxicity, methanol is often used as a denaturing additive for industrial ethanol. Methanol is often referred to as wood alcohol because it was once produced primarily as a by-product of dry distillation of wood.

Methanol can be shipped throughout the continental United States with a lead time of one week. Please call (401) 360-2800 for more information. The product is transported in bulk and semi-bulk by tank trucks and railcars. Delivery times and packaging options are subject to change.
The ancient Egyptians used a mixture of substances, including methanol, in the embalming process. They obtained methanol from the pyrolysis of wood. Pyrolysis is the chemical breakdown of concentrated organic matter by heating.

However, pure methanol was not isolated until 1661 by Robert Boyle, who produced the chemical by distilling boxwood. The chemical came to be known as pyroxylic spirit. French chemists Jean-Baptiste Dumas and Eugene Peligot determined its elemental composition in 1834.
Natural gas is the most economical and widely used raw material for methanol production. However, other raw materials can be used. Coal is gaining popularity as a feedstock for methanol production, especially in China. In addition, proven technologies available for biomass gasification are being used for methanol production.
Methanol is highly toxic to humans. May cause permanent blindness if even 10 mL is ingested due to damage to the optic nerve. Only 30ml can be fatal, although a typical lethal dose is 100-125ml (4 fl oz). However, toxic effects take hours to manifest, and effective antidotes can often prevent permanent damage.