Methanol: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 02:01, 26 July 2020

Methanol, C H₃OH, is the simplest alcohol. It is commonly used as a building block for other chemicals, such as formaldehyde, acetic acid, and dimethyl ether. Like ethanol and other alcohols, methanol is toxic and highly flammable.

Methanol is a liquid carbohydrate, thus capable of storing large amounts of energy. In a settlement on Mars it has the potential to play a central part of energy management. Additionally, it can be used as a resource for making other carbohydrates, to feed methanotrophs or to produce synthetic materials.

Methanol synthesis

Methanol can be produced from methane and water.

First step: Production of synthesis gas

CH₄ + H₂O → CO + 3 H₂

Second step: Synthesis of methanol

CO + 2 H₂ → CH₃OH

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 '''Methanol''', [[carbon|C]][[hydrogen|H]]<sub>3</sub>[[oxygen|O]]H, is the simplest [[alcohol]]. It is commonly used as a building block for other chemicals, such as [[formaldehyde]], [[acetic acid]], and [[dimethyl ether]]. Like [[ethanol]] and other alcohols, methanol is toxic and highly flammable.
-Methanol is a liquid [[carbohydrate]], thus capable of [[energy storage|storing large amounts of energy]]. In a [[settlement]] on [[Mars]] it has the potential to play a central part of [[energy]] management. Additionally, it can be used as a resource for making other carbohydrates, finally to produce [[synthetic materials]].
+Methanol is a liquid [[carbohydrate]], thus capable of [[energy storage|storing large amounts of energy]]. In a [[settlement]] on [[Mars]] it has the potential to play a central part of [[energy]] management. Additionally, it can be used as a resource for making other carbohydrates, to feed [[Biological_reactors|methanotrophs]] or to produce [[synthetic materials]].
 ==Methanol synthesis==