1. Scope

Keywords

Rationale

Methanol is an important chemical product, with upstream raw materials including natural gas, coke oven gas, coal, and others. The composition of impurities in methanol varies depending on the production process. Downstream products of methanol include various aldehydes, acids, ethers, and olefins, among others, and different end-users focus on different key impurities. Additionally, contaminants such as aromatics and MTBE may be introduced during shipping. The international methanol industry has increasingly focused on analytical methods for trace process-related impurities and transportation-induced contaminants. On the other hand, the ASTM D1152-24 standard specifies test items for ethanol, acetone, and aromatics in methanol, necessitating the development of corresponding ASTM test methods. For these reasons, a gas chromatography-based method for testing organic impurities in methanol has been developed. This method can be adopted by all parties involved in methanol transactions for product quality control and the formulation of international trade agreements.