Methanol is an organic compound with the chemical form CH₃OH. It is also known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol. Like most alcohols, methanol is very toxic. Its ingestion can cause severe nerve damage leading to blindness, insanity, and death. Methanol can be prepared through destructive distillation of coal, wood and wood products, garbage, sewage sludge, and other forms of biomass. It is an excellent automotive fuel and has long been used to power racing cars. Existing methods of production are still too expensive, however, to make it an economically viable alternative to gasoline in the general market.

See Also

Alternative Fuels; Fuel-Switching