For example, the US Department of Defense has a major program in methanol-based fuel cells.
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Adams questions how Rivera can produce biodiesel without methanol--or transform 60 pounds of soybeans into 37 pounds of biodiesel, versus the 27 pounds generally considered the limit.
But concerns over how the methanol would be distributed--and whether methanol-powered phones would be allowed on airplanes--are now leading the company to put plans on hold for several years.
The new approach described by Matthias Beller, from the University of Rostock, and colleagues uses a ruthenium-based catalyst, which can efficiently generate hydrogen from methanol at 65-95C and at ambient pressure.
So taxpayers funded a 40 MGY wood-based ethanol plant and they are instead getting a 4 MGY wood-based methanol plant.
If hydrates remain a problem, the smaller size will be easier for BP to circulate antifreeze-like methanol through the system, keeping the hydrates from forming.
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But in the short term, researchers are working on reformers which produce hydrogen aboard vehicles by extracting the gas from methanol or other hydrocarbon fuels -- a process that can release pollutants, though at far lower levels than internal combustion engines, Roan said.
FFVs can be engineered to run on methanol and butanol, as well - alcohol-based fuels that, like ethanol, can be manufactured in quantity from abundant domestic sources.
The authors believe their system could combine the advantages of methanol as a hydrogen carrier and of proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells for efficient energy production.
We have the option right now to require that new automobiles sold in this country be capable of using alcohol-based fuels like ethanol, methanol or butanol instead of or together with gasoline.
An international team has now published details of an efficient, low-temperature method for generating it from methanol.
One frequent question deals with Compressed Natural Gas or Liquified Natural Gas vehicles (Natural Gas Vehicles or NGV) in comparison with tri-Flex Fuel vehicles ( Gasoline, Ethanol, Methanol) vehicles.
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Publicly traded Mechanical Technology (nasdaq: MKTY - news - people ) has recruited Gillette to produce methanol fuel cartridges and has an agreement with Samsung Electronics to build prototypes.
Conversion of natural gas to methanol, as widely practiced in the chemicals industry, could provide a cost-effective route to manufacturing an alternative, or supplement, to gasoline, while keeping CO2 emissions at roughly the same level.
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For example, a federal requirement that new cars sold in America be capable of using methanol and ethanol, as well as gasoline, would create markets for such alcohol-based fuels and competition that will drive down gas prices.
During phase two of their project, currently slated for mid- 2012, Range plans to expand production at the Soperton plant and transition from a methanol to a mixed alcohol catalyst.
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