substance

Methanol

Formula: CH4O
CAS: 67-56-1
InChIKey: OKKJLVBELUTLKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
ChEBI: CHEBI:17790

Show in the process graph →

Made by

Refined glycerol (USP) from biodiesel crude glycerol (10 000 t/a, concept)Co-productConcept · not reviewed
Isobutene by MTBE cracking (50 kt/a, gas-phase cleavage)Co-productConcept · not reviewed
Methanol synthesis loop and purification (2500 t/d Grade AA, natural-gas syngas)Main productConcept · not reviewed

Used by

Acetic acid by low-water iridium methanol carbonylation (60 t/h glacial acid, concept)FeedstockConcept · not reviewed
Chloromethane from methanol and hydrogen chloride (gas-phase hydrochlorination, 100 kt/a)FeedstockConcept · not reviewed
Formaldehyde by methanol oxidation over iron molybdate (Formox type, 20 t/h formalin 50 wt%)FeedstockConcept · not reviewed
Formic acid 85 wt% by methanol carbonylation and methyl formate hydrolysis (50 kt/a)FeedstockConcept · not reviewed
Methylamines (MMA, DMA, TMA) from methanol and ammoniaFeedstockConcept · level Balanced · not reviewedEvidence outdated

Takes part in

2CH₄O+3O₂gives2CO₂+4H₂OReactant · 2 processes
2CH₄O+O₂gives2CH₂O+2H₂OReactant · one process
2CH₄OgivesC₂H₆O+H₂OReactant · 3 processes
CH₄O+COin equilibrium withC₂H₄O₂Reactant · one process
C₂H₄O₂+H₂Oin equilibrium withCH₂O₂+CH₄OProduct · one process
CH₄O+C₂H₇Nin equilibrium withC₃H₉N+H₂OReactant · one process
CH₄O+CH₅Nin equilibrium withC₂H₇N+H₂OReactant · one process
C₅H₁₂Oin equilibrium withC₄H₈+CH₄OProduct · one process
C₉H₁₂+O₂givesC₈H₈O+CH₄OProduct · one process
CH₃NaO+CH₄O+COgivesCHNaO₂+C₂H₆OReactant · one process
CH₃NaO+H₂O+COgivesCHNaO₂+CH₄OProduct · one process
CH₃NaO+HClgivesNaCl+CH₄OProduct · Neutralisation of the residual catalyst (acidulator) · one process
CH₄O+COgivesC₂H₄O₂Reactant · one process
CO+2H₂in equilibrium withCH₄OProduct · one process
CH₄O+H₂givesCH₄+H₂OReactant · one process
CO₂+3H₂in equilibrium withCH₄O+H₂OProduct · one process
CH₄O+HClgivesCH₃Cl+H₂OReactant · one process
CH₄O+NH₃in equilibrium withCH₅N+H₂OReactant · one process

Routes compared

All 3 ways to make Methanol, with filters →

Not comparable as they standAllocation: differs; Background data (impacts): differs; Reference product (grade, state): differs. The rows say which route each warning concerns.

Per 1 kg of Methanol: inventory from each route's LCI dataset, unallocated; footprints per the functional unit of their own LCA.

Route	Tier, design maturity, review status	Geography, year	Energy	Feedstocks	Key emissions	Footprint	Comparability
Refined glycerol (USP) from biodiesel crude glycerol (10 000 t/a, concept)Crude glycerol refining: HCl acidulation, fatty-layer decanting, NaOH neutralisation, atmospheric methanol column, vacuum dewatering, vacuum still with live steam and salt centrifuge, activated carbon bleaching; 10 000 t/a glycerol 99.7 wt%	flowsheet or hand-writtenDesign maturity: Concept (research)Not independently reviewedDataset review: unreviewed	GLO, 2026	a co-product of a multi-output dataset (product:MEOHR, product:FAL besides it): its share needs the allocation of the LCI database build			no footprint	Reference product (grade, state): product is no grade (basis mass, component GLY, pressure 2.5, purity 0.997, temperature 40.0); the routes state no grade (basis mass, component GLY, pressure 2.5, purity 0.997, temperature 40.0), no grade (basis mole, component CH3OH, pressure 3.0, purity 0.999111, temperature 40.0), no grade (basis mole, component MEOH, pressure 4.8, purity 0.992091, temperature 40.0) Allocation: allocation is shares; the routes state exergy, shares Background data (impacts): background is factors: no stated sources (none factors); boundary cradle-to-gate; the routes state factors: no stated sources (none factors); boundary cradle-to-gate, factors: no stated sources (none factors); boundary gate-to-gate
Isobutene by MTBE cracking (50 kt/a, gas-phase cleavage)gas-phase MTBE cracking over an acidic silica-alumina type catalyst, heated multitubular reactor 553 K / 0.9 MPa, conversion 0.90 per pass with MTBE recycle, water wash, drying/DME column, methanol recovery; 50 kt/a isobutene, concept design	flowsheet or hand-writtenDesign maturity: Concept (research)Not independently reviewedDataset review: unreviewed	GLO, 2026	a co-product of a multi-output dataset (product:IBP, product:HEAVIES, product:FUELGAS besides it): its share needs the allocation of the LCI database build			no footprint	Reference product (grade, state): product is no grade (basis mole, component MEOH, pressure 4.8, purity 0.992091, temperature 40.0); the routes state no grade (basis mass, component GLY, pressure 2.5, purity 0.997, temperature 40.0), no grade (basis mole, component CH3OH, pressure 3.0, purity 0.999111, temperature 40.0), no grade (basis mole, component MEOH, pressure 4.8, purity 0.992091, temperature 40.0) Allocation: states no allocation
Methanol synthesis loop and purification (2500 t/d Grade AA, natural-gas syngas)low-pressure methanol synthesis on Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 in a boiling-water converter, recycle loop with purge, LP flash, topping and refining columns; electric compressor drives; 2500 t/d	flowsheet or hand-writtenDesign maturity: Concept (research)Not independently reviewedDataset review: unreviewed	GLO, 2026	Electric power: 0.183 kWh LP steam 450 kPa(a): 0.975 kWh	Make-up synthesis gas from reforming: 1.27 kg	none	no footprint	Reference product (grade, state): product is no grade (basis mole, component CH3OH, pressure 3.0, purity 0.999111, temperature 40.0); the routes state no grade (basis mass, component GLY, pressure 2.5, purity 0.997, temperature 40.0), no grade (basis mole, component CH3OH, pressure 3.0, purity 0.999111, temperature 40.0), no grade (basis mole, component MEOH, pressure 4.8, purity 0.992091, temperature 40.0) Allocation: allocation is exergy; the routes state exergy, shares Background data (impacts): background is factors: no stated sources (none factors); boundary gate-to-gate; the routes state factors: no stated sources (none factors); boundary cradle-to-gate, factors: no stated sources (none factors); boundary gate-to-gate

How comparability is checked

Allocation: differs (same allocation method: exergy, shares)
Background data (impacts): differs (same background data and boundary behind the impact numbers (only routes with a footprint): factors: no stated sources (none factors); boundary cradle-to-gate, factors: no stated sources (none factors); boundary gate-to-gate)
System boundary: same (same system boundary of the inventory (the dataset's boundary): gate-to-gate foreground of the plant)
Data quality (TfS DQR): same (data quality: every route states a TfS DQR, none more than 1 above the best)
Functional unit: same (same functional unit (amount and unit of the reference product): 1 kg)
Reference product (grade, state): differs (same reference product: registry grade and state: no grade (basis mass, component GLY, pressure 2.5, purity 0.997, temperature 40.0), no grade (basis mole, component CH3OH, pressure 3.0, purity 0.999111, temperature 40.0), no grade (basis mole, component MEOH, pressure 4.8, purity 0.992091, temperature 40.0))
System model: same (same system model (docs/system-model.md): cutoff)

ISO 14044 requires a critical review (by a panel of interested parties, ISO/TS 14071) of a comparative assertion intended to be disclosed to the public. These routes are listed side by side for screening; a statement that one is better than another needs that review. None of these routes has had such a review.