Methyl alcohol, often known as methanol, is a hazardous material that should be handled carefully and with the right expertise. It can be fatal if absorbed by the skin, lungs, digestive tract, or eyes. Thus, one must communicate properly and have a complete understanding of the level of danger, dosage, and duration to work around it. A thorough methanol safety data sheet is therefore required. 

Methanol is required for the manufacturing process in numerous industries, including chemical manufacturing companies. This material is used to make polyester, polymers, and other compounds. As a result, employees in plastic manufacturing facilities and transportation workers who come into contact with the deicing of vehicles bear the risk of being exposed to methanol. In addition, workers in the fuel industry as well as those exposed to specific solvents or cleaning chemicals may also be at risk.

A methanol safety data sheet is a useful document that each facility that stores methanol must create, store, and share. What is it all about, who needs it and why is it necessary? By exploring the blog you’ll find all your answers. 

This toxic substance is used by various industries and therefore to ensure worker safety such facilities need this document. So, let’s begin by knowing 

Use of Methanol Chemical in Different Industries

Who then requires these safety data sheets? Workers in the industries where the chemical is utilized will find it useful. However, how is it used by various industries?  Let’s take a look at the following points to help you know in detail. 

  • Chemical Industry: 

For the sake of creating a wide range of chemicals and intermediates this industry utilizes Methanol. It is a key ingredient in the synthesis of formaldehyde, acetic acid, and methyl methacrylate. Moreover, to prepare various other organic compounds this chemical is required.

  • Fuel Industry: 

This is used in this industry as it’s known as alternative fuel. For transportation, power generation, and heating this chemical is necessary. For the production of various fuel blends, Methanol is generally blended with gasoline. 

  • Pharmaceutical Industry: 

The pharmaceutical industry uses methanol to synthesize solvents and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). In labs, this is also effective as an extractor and purifier.

  • Petrochemical Industry: 

For this industry, methanol is a necessary raw material for the production of aromatics and olefins, among other petrochemicals. This material is necessary for the proper synthesis of polymers, resins, and fibers.

  • Energy Industry: 

Methanol is a clean-burning fuel used in stationary power generation applications in this industry. It can also be a useful energy carrier for storing and moving renewable energy sources.

Careful handling of this material needs a proper guideline for such industries. That’s why, a Methanol Safety data sheet will be necessary. Continue exploring to understand it in detail.

 

Methanol Safety Data Sheet: In Brief

This is an essential document that comes with 16 mandatory sections explaining some essential information about Methanol. Each section of this document comes with some crucial information such as its properties, hazards, handling, storage, and emergency measures related to this toxic substance. 

Usually, the methanol supplier, importer, or manufacturer prepares these kinds of documents. The purpose of creating such documents is to guarantee the chemical’s safe usage, transportation, and disposal. 

Apart from providing information on chemical composition, and physical and chemical properties it also shares some of the safe handling procedures and first aid measures. By going through this SDS, workers can understand its risks and take proper precautions to handle accidents.

These types of documents are prepared by chemical manufacturers or importers. Who are the manufacturers? Continue reading to find such information.

 

Top Methanol Manufacturers in the USA

 

Below we have highlighted some of the top Methanol Manufacturers in the USA. So, take a look to know the major manufacturer of this chemical and the SDS. 

  • Hach Company: 

This company is renowned for providing analytical instruments and reagents that are mainly used to test the quality of water. This service is ideal for other solutions also. This company prepares chemical reagents. To learn about chemical producers, one needs to be familiar with this company. Their list of chemicals includes the production of Methanol.

  • Exxon Mobil Corporation: 

Exxon is not just a manufacturer but also a distributor of Methanol. It works in more than 200 nations and territories worldwide. Users can also locate the SDS that this corporation generated to locate trustworthy SDSs on this product.

  • The Chemical Co.: 

Another manufacturer and distributor of methanol is the Chemical Co. which is based in the USA. To guarantee a stable product supply for its clients and long-term supply security, this organization carefully selects its raw materials. Users can also refer to the SDSs that this company produces for valid and authentic information.

  • Merck Life Science N.V:

The list of top manufacturers of Methanol is not complete without this name. This company provides lab materials and technology to assist in research work. As a producer of this toxic substance, this company too releases and maintains a proper SDS for its users.

  • NexTech Materials:

This is an Ohio-based company that also produces Methanol along with other chemical components. Moreover, this company is also one of the major distributors in the market of methanol in the USA. Therefore, the company also shares safety information with all its users to ensure their proper safety. 

 

Information Covered in Methanol Safety Data Sheet

Manufacturers must develop this specific safety data sheet according to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard. According to the guidelines, this document should have 16 sections. To know the format of a Methanol safety data sheet in detail check out the following points. 

 

1. Details of the Chemicals and the Manufacturer:

 In the first section of this document, the manufacturer must provide information such as the name of the chemical, its chemical formula, synonym, its CAS number, etc. This type of information helps users identify the substance. It must also reveal details about the manufacturer’s name and address along with contact information. 

 

2. Information on Ingredients: 

Methanol is one of the toxic substances and section 2 of the SDS should provide information on all of its chemical ingredients. This substance is colorless and has a sweet pungent odor like ethyl alcohol. By going through this section users can understand its key composition along with its threshold limit values for use. This ensures that users understand the safe levels of exposure to this chemical. 

 

3. Hazard Statement of Methanol: 

From the third section, users can find all the hazardous information about this chemical. This section helps users with a proper guideline for hazard identification. For instance, this document helps users know how the substance may enter the human body. This section also shares information on its acute effect on health such as its inhalation may cause headache, nausea, sleepiness, confusion, etc. It also informs users what could be the chronic effects of inhaling methanol on their bodies. For example, blindness, brain abnormalities, reduced eyesight, and systemic toxicity may result from repeated exposure via inhalation or absorption. Thus, section 3 is a complete hazard statement of Methanol.

 

4. Tips on Safety Measures: 

From sections 4 to 6 users should be able to find various types of safety tips. It must provide adequate information on first aid tips along with appropriate fire fighting measures. Besides, it must include safety information on how to handle emergencies. Therefore proper information should be present there to help users know accidental release measures also. 

 

5. Handling and Storage Tips: 

The Methanol Safety data sheet must also provide crucial information on the handling and storage tips of such substances. Therefore, by going through the 7th section users must understand how they can store such chemicals in the right way. This helps avoid accidents as one gets details of handling and storing precautions in an organized manner. For instance, it must be kept away from heat, spark, and flame. Moreover, for safe storage, it’s crucial to find a cool well-ventilated area.

 

6. Methanol Chemical Properties:

To know and understand the methanol chemical properties, one must verify section 9. Along with its physical state, this section provides information on its appearance and reveals its odor type. Users can also find some other information such as its specific gravity, water solubility, and also its boiling point. Some other information that may help users handling methanol is knowing its freezing points, and vapor density. The knowledge of methanol chemical properties is useful for laboratory employees, students researchers, and also chemical manufacturers.

 

7. Toxicological Information: 

Section 11 of this SDS is also vital as it reveals some toxicological information. What exactly is this section all about? It says what could be the effects of toxic inhalation of Methanol. For instance, its contact with the skin could be irritating. Moreover, it also reveals the possible chronic effects of inhaling such toxic substances. For instance, it may cause birth defects and also may affect genetic material. Such information helps users take extra precautions while handling such substances. 

 

8. Disposal Guidelines:

The SDS also provides useful information on how to properly dispose of Methanol. This section informs users how to handle waste to safeguard the environment and also to ensure public safety. Moreover, facilities must be aware of federal and state regulations for the proper disposal. 

 

9. Transport Guidelines:

Section 14 of this document is crucial as it provides thorough transport guidelines. Through this section, the users understand how to prepare the substance for safe transport. For this reason, several crucial details should be collected from this section. For instance, users must learn the DOT classification and other details to prepare shipping labels.