# Methanol: Characteristics

Why ships need twice the tank space

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/methanol/characteristics/

What this tab covers The physical and chemical properties that set its grade, price and uses, with the commercial grades and the standards that define them.

Methanol is sold as a commodity liquid to a tight purity standard. Buyers check purity, water and trace impurities that poison downstream catalysts. For fuel use, energy density matters: methanol carries about 20 MJ/kg, under half of diesel, so ships need roughly twice the tank volume.

#### Properties that matter commercially

| Property | Value / specification | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Purity** | at least 99.85% by weight (IMPCA reference specification; US Federal Grade AA) | acetic acid and formaldehyde catalysts are sensitive to impurities | IMPCA Methanol Reference Specifications (indicative) |
| **Water** | at most 0.1% by weight (indicative) | water dilutes and corrodes | IMPCA (indicative) |
| **Lower heating value** | about 19.9 MJ/kg | sets fuel value against diesel (about 43 MJ/kg) | physical data (indicative) |
| **Boiling and flash point** | boils at 64.7 C; flash point about 11 C | storage and fire safety | physical data |
| **Density** | 0.79 t/m3 at 20 C | tank and ship sizing | physical data |

#### Commercial grades

- Grade AA chemical grade (99.85%)
- Fuel grade for blending and bunkering
- Certified bio-methanol and e-methanol (ISCC, RED)
- Pharma and electronic grades (higher purity)

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/methanol/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/methanol/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/methanol/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/methanol/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/methanol/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/methanol/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/methanol/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/methanol/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/methanol/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/methanol/regulation/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/methanol/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/methanol/links/index.md)