US Methanol Brings Production to West Virginia
Found in clothes , fragrances , carpets , plastic bottles , fertilizers , medical equipment , paints , fuel and so much more , methanol and methanol-based products are widely used in everyday life . West Virginia-based methanol manufacturer , US Methanol LLC , contributes to producing many of those everyday products , including industrial commodities like plastics , varnishes , medicines , adhesives and textiles .
The United States is a net exporter of methanol , and US Methanol LLC is proud to be a plant that safely and efficiently manufactures methanol to serve the northeastern U . S . market . Located in the Kanawha Valley in West Virginia , the plant is capable of manufacturing 200,000 metric tons of product per year , contributing to the approximate 8 million tons of methanol produced in the U . S . annually .
At room temperature , methanol is a clear , colorless and flammable liquid . It ’ s a feedstock to produce a host of chemical derivatives that are then used to manufacture many common products consumers use daily . For example , acetic acid is used to produce fleece , paints and adhesives . Methyl methacrylate is used to produce LCD screens and automotive components . Formaldehyde is used to produce building supplies like MDF and plywood . Olefins are used to produce plastics like polypropylene .
Not only does methanol play a major role in the chemical industry and petrochemicals , but it has become an indispensable energy source . Methanol is used in the energy sector in its purest form or mixed with other fuels . It can be used in many fuel and fuel additive applications .
US Methanol offers its customers pure , made-in-the- USA methanol that is made reliably , safely and at a very competitive price .
“ Natural gas is the primary raw material used to produce methanol and our process uses heat and catalyst to reform natural gas into syngas , which is a mixture of hydrogen , carbon monoxide and some carbon dioxide ,” says US Methanol CEO Michael L . Walsh .
Syngas is converted into crude methanol liquid under pressure and in synthesis reactors using another catalyst . Crude methanol is distilled to remove water and other byproducts to produce high purity methanol to ship to customers .
International investment group KKCG is the sole owner of US Methanol LLC . The group invests in the lottery and gaming , energy , information technology and real estate industries . US Methanol entered the methanol production