Windshield Water

Manufacturing
1. 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.
2. Negative Consequences
  1. Environment
    1. Emits 3.8 lbs of CO2 for a gallon of methanol (if made on a greater level and not under a controlled lab).
  2. Health
    1. 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
1. 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.
2. Negative Consequences
  1. Health
    1. 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
  2. Environment
    1. 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
1. Society
  1. 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.
2. Environment
  1. 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.
3. Health
  1. 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?
1. 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?
1. Negative Consequences
  1. Health
    1. If gets in contact with the skin, could cause serious damage. Other problems like bronchitis, lung infection could occur if inhaled.
  2. Enviornment
    1. 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.
2. 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.

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	Created by Jaskiran Garcha about 8 years ago