Methanol Diesel-15 fuel

About Methanol Diesel-15 Fuel:

• It is a special fuel developed by the Indian Railways’ Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL).
• It is a cost-effective blended fuel containing 15% methanol, 71% mineral diesel, and 14% indigenously developed additives by IOCL.

What are the benefits of MD-15?

• It offers superior performance, combustion, and emission characteristics compared to regular mineral diesel fuel.
• It has the potential to reduce diesel consumption by 15% and result in substantial annual savings.
• It significantly decreases harmful pollutant emissions, contributing to a cleaner and greener environment.
• The NOx emissions were significantly lower, thus reducing the harmful pollutants which cause smog and pollution.

Key facts about Methanol

• It is also called methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, or wood spirit.
• It is the simplest of a long series of organic compounds called alcohols, consisting of a methyl group (CH3) linked with a hydroxy group (OH). 
• It completely mixes with water.
• Production
• This fuel is generally produced by steam-reforming natural gas to create synthesis gas.
• Feeding this synthesis gas into a reactor with a catalyst produces methanol and water vapour.
• Application: Used to make chemicals, to remove water from automotive and aviation fuels, as a solvent for paints and plastics and as an ingredient in a wide variety of products.