Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Windshield Water
- Manufacturing
- Mainly produced from a synthesis gas
which is a mixture of carbon monoxide
and hydrogen. First, the natural gas is
reformed with steam. Then the resulting
gas is a synthesized gas which
undergoes the process of distillation to
create methanol. At the same time, itcould
also be produced from coal or other
biomass (waste material and renewable).
The chemical formula is CH3OH.
- Negative Consequences
- Environment
- Emits 3.8 lbs of CO2 for a gallon of
methanol (if made on a greater level
and not under a controlled lab).
- Health
- The CO2 make the environment worse
creating more pollution and bad air quality,
which negatively impacts the human body.
This Can lead to lung and breathing
problems like asthma.
- How is it Used
- Used as a feedstock for the production of many
acids like acetic acid and formaldehyde.. These are
very important to produce other things like adhesive
foams. Other solutions include products like
Dimethyl ether and Trane.. For example, Triazine
makes BT resins which in turn is used to make
printed circuit boards. Can also be used as an alternative
fuel for automobiles as well. It is emerging
alternative fuels which are good because of it's easy
availability and has a high octane rate etc.
- Negative Consequences
- Health
- If ingested, methanol can cause
metabolize to formaldehyde and formate
salts which are poisonous. Can cause
damage to the central nervous system,
which can lead to coma and death. Even 2
to 8 ounces of methanol can be fatal to
an adult and can cause blindness, if
comes in contact with eyes
- Environment
- Easily flammable and corrosive. |t is very important to use
it with complete safety and proper storrage, since it is
highly dangerous. If there are any spills, it can cause
damage to all the things around it. Takes up a lot of
natural land and the crops grown must be monocultural,
so the same crop must be regrown. Some scholars belive that
this causes wastage of food, to produce such products,
because it can be used to feed other people.
- Impact if Methanol
disappeared from the
world
- Society
- There are many countries in the world which are
dependent on methanol production for their economy,
such as the US and Brazil. This would lower their economy
and increase the unemployment rate with loss of jobs. As
a chain effect, this can highly effect the international
market. Also, the change in economy could lead to the
political disturbance. This requires new solutions to lower
the unemployment rate, which increased with the job loss
due to the stoppage in production of methanol.
- Environment
- Less CO2 will be emitted into the air, so there
will be a decrease in the pollution. Other
products like ethanol will be used more. Since
Methanol is an alternative to fossil fuels, as a
source from Biomass just like Ethanol.
- Health
- The air will be cleaner for humans to breath
from with less CO2 emissions.. This decreases
health risks and there will be no safety
needed when dealing with methanol.
- Is there a more greener/safer alternative?
- There is no certain compound which is
better an alternative to methanol. There
are many similar products like ethanol but
all of them are really similar. The only
difference in ethanol is it being less
dangerous if consumed because it doesn’t
cause as fatal things, like central brain
damage
- How should it be disposed?
- Negative Consequences
- Health
- If gets in contact with the skin,
could cause serious damage. Other
problems like bronchitis, lung
infection could occur if inhaled.
- Enviornment
- If disposed into the drain, the
water systems could get
contaminated. Could kill water
life. If disposed in a green area
could lead to fire and destruction
of the forest and wildlife.
- At a licensed water solvent company or should be
reclaimed by the distillation facilities. Should not be
directly poured into sewers or other bodies of waters or
down the drain. Depending on the area, rules could
vary so the environmental officials should be
contacted.