methanol
Methanol is a type of alcohol made primarily from natural gas. It’s a base material in acetic acid and formaldehyde, and in recent years, it is also increasingly being used in ethylene and propylene. Mixing methanol with substances like these enables it to be used as an intermediate material to make literally thousands of methanol and methanol derivative products used in practically every aspect of our lives. Methanol and its derivative products, such as ascetic acid and formaldehyde created via chemical reactions, are used as base materials in acrylic plastic; synthetic fabrics and fibers used to make clothing; adhesives, paint, and plywood used in construction; and as a chemical agent in pharmaceuticals and agrichemicals. Researchers in Japan say they've discovered a way to manufacture methanol from natural gas at room temperature in water using a special enzyme that can be easily mass-produced. Translation: It is a really cheap way to create new methanol.
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