What is methanol?
Methanol, also called methyl alcohol or wood alcohol, is a clear, volatile liquid used across chemical manufacturing, fuels, resins, coatings, pharmaceuticals, and laboratory workflows. It is valued because it is miscible with water and many organic solvents, has a relatively simple composition, and functions as both a process solvent and a feedstock.
For procurement teams, the key issue is not just finding methanol; it is confirming the right specification for the use case. Industrial buyers may prioritize purity, water content, acidity, appearance, packaging, delivery location, and consistent COA availability. Process-sensitive users may need tighter limits and stronger batch traceability.
Methanol is indexed on Chemical Dekho by CAS 67-56-1, which helps buyers avoid confusion with ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, denatured alcohol, or blended solvent products. CAS-based sourcing keeps the conversation technical and reduces the chance of buying the wrong alcohol solvent.
CAS Number
67-56-1
Common names
Methyl alcohol, wood alcohol
Buyer focus
Purity + safety
Applications
Where methanol is used
Methanol is used in both direct solvent applications and downstream chemical production, making it a common RFQ item for manufacturers and traders.
Chemical intermediate
Used as a feedstock in formaldehyde, acetic acid, methylamines, methyl esters, and other chemical value chains.
Solvent and cleaning blends
Used in coatings, inks, process cleaning, extraction, and manufacturing environments requiring a polar alcohol solvent.
Laboratory and analytical use
Used in labs for sample preparation, chromatography workflows, reagent preparation, and general solvent handling where suitable.
Fuel and energy applications
Used in selected fuel, biodiesel, antifreeze, and energy-related workflows where methanol specifications and safety controls are critical.
Grade Selection
How to choose the right methanol grade
Industrial-grade methanol may be suitable for many manufacturing uses, but lab, pharmaceutical, electronics, and analytical workflows can require higher documentation discipline. Buyers should compare purity, water content, non-volatile residue, acidity, color, and whether the supplier can provide batch-specific COA.
Because methanol is toxic and flammable, procurement should also check packaging integrity, drum or tanker suitability, transport compliance, storage capability, and whether the supplier understands the intended application. The lowest quote is not always the best quote if documentation and handling controls are weak.
RFQ checklist
- Required purity
- Water content
- COA and SDS
- Drum or tanker packaging
- Delivery city
- Use case and volume
Specification Snapshot
Methanol specifications buyers usually compare
Methanol comparison should include more than headline purity. Moisture, residue, acidity, packaging, supplier documentation, and delivery consistency can all affect production reliability.
Safety basics: methanol is flammable and toxic.
This blog is a buyer guide, not a replacement for your SDS, site EHS procedure, or local compliance requirements.
Methanol exposure can be dangerous by inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. Buyers should ensure teams follow the supplier SDS, provide ventilation, control ignition sources, use compatible PPE, and store methanol according to flammable-liquid and toxic-material procedures.
Connect to Methanol page
Ready to compare methanol suppliers?
If you are sourcing methanol in India, visit the Methanol CAS 67-56-1 page to align identity, specifications, supplier details, documentation, and packaging expectations before requesting quotes.
Better RFQs start here
Use the product page to align product identity, specifications, documentation, and supplier comparison before you ask for quotes.
FAQ
Methanol buying questions
What is methanol used for?
Methanol is used as a solvent, chemical intermediate, fuel-related material, laboratory solvent, and feedstock for products such as formaldehyde and acetic acid.
Is methanol the same as ethanol?
No. Methanol and ethanol are different alcohols with different CAS numbers, applications, safety profiles, and regulatory handling requirements.
What documents should methanol buyers request?
Buyers should ask for COA, SDS/MSDS, TDS, packaging details, batch traceability, and transport documentation where applicable.
Where can I source methanol suppliers in India?
Chemical Dekho provides a dedicated Methanol CAS 67-56-1 page where buyers can review specifications and connect with suitable suppliers.
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Read guideTurn methanol research into a supplier shortlist.
Chemical Dekho connects chemical discovery with actual procurement intent, so buyers can search by CAS, compare specs, and speak with suppliers using the right technical vocabulary.