Ways to make Methanol

3 routes in the Atlas, side by side per the same functional unit. Whether they compare is computed from their data, criterion by criterion; a warning sits next to each route it concerns.

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.