Methanol Testing and Analysis

Methanol chemical analysis to ASTM and IMPCA quality and purity specifications and standards.

Methanol, also called methyl alcohol, is a clear, colorless liquid, it is completely soluble in and non-reactive in water.

It is most commonly produced from natural gas by reforming the gas with steam and then converting and distilling the resulting synthesized gas mixture to create pure methanol but can also be derived from renewable bio-feedstocks and from coal through gasification.

The primary use of methanol is in the production of other chemical products. It is used to produce formaldehyde, acetic acid and a variety of other chemical intermediates. These derivates which in turn are used in the manufacture of a wide range of products including plywood, particleboard, silicones, foams, paints, foams, resins and plastics. A significant amount of methanol is also used to make MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl ether), an additive used in cleaner burning gasoline. Methanol also is in fact a clean-burning, biodegradable fuel. Increasingly, methanol’s environmental and economic advantages are making it an attractive alternative fuel for powering vehicles and ships, cooking food and heating homes. Methanol is also widely considered to be a potential hydrogen carrier for many future fuel cell applications. As result, Methanol ranks among the top 4 globally used chemicals.

Methanol chemical analysis to ASTM and IMPCA quality and purity specifications and standards.

Intertek tests methanol and solutions containing methanol for purity, contamination, composition and other quality and chemical parameters. Methanol bulk cargo inspection and testing are available throughout the world. Methanol laboratory analysis reaches trace and ultra-trace levels. ASTM tests and IMPCA* specifications are followed along with other industry standards.

ASTM Methanol testing:

• Visual Appearance
• ASTM D4052 Specific gravity 20/20°C or 25/25°C
• ASTM D1209 Color Pt-Co or ASTM D 5386 Color Pt-Co
• ASTM D1078 Distillation Range, Initial Boiling Point (IBP) and Dry Point (DP)
• ASTM D1353 Non-Volatile Matter
• ASTM D1296 Odor
• ASTM E1064 Water
• ASTM D1613 Acidity as Acetic Acid
• ITM Composition / impurities (Ethanol, Butanol, Acetone, Propanol,...)
• ASTM E346 Sulphuric Acid Wash Test, Carbonized Impurity
• ASTM D1363 Potassium Permanganate Time
• ASTM D1722 Hydrocarbons / Water Miscibility
• ASTM E394 Iron content
• ASTMD 5453 Sulphur
• ITM Chlorides
• ITM Aromatics (UV)

IMPCA* Methanol reference specification testing:

• IMPCA 003 Appearance
• IMPCA 001 Purity
• IMPCA 001 Acetone
• IMPCA 001 Ethanol
• ASTM D1209 Color
• ASTM E1064 Water
• ASTM D1078 Distillation range at 760 mm Hg
• ASTM D4052 Specific gravity 20/20°C
• ASTM D1363 Permanganate testing at 15°C
• IMPCA 002 Chloride as Cl-
• ASTM D5453 Sulphur
• ASTM D1722 Hydrocarbons
• ASTM E346 Carbonisable substances (sulphuric acid wash test)
• ASTM D1613 Acidity as acetic acid
• ASTM E394 Iron in solution
• ASTM D5353 Nonvolatile matter
• STM E346 TMA
• IMPCA 004 Aromatics

*IMPCA - International Methanol Producers & Consumers Association