Methanol (Methyl Alcohol) – A Toxic Chemical Substance

• Methanol (CH₃OH), also known as wood alcohol or spirit, is a colourless, light sweet-smelling, and highly volatile liquid. 
• It is a toxic substance widely used in industrial applications, but its ingestion is extremely dangerous to humans. 
• When methanol is mixed into illegally produced alcohol (hooch), it can lead to deaths

Chemical Structure and Properties:

• Methanol (CH₃OH) is a simple alcohol containing a methyl group (CH₃) and a hydroxyl group (-OH).
• It is a colourless liquid with a light sweet and sharp odor.
• Methanol is completely miscible with water, which makes it useful as a solvent in various chemical reactions.
• It is also used as an antifreeze due to its ability to lower the freezing point of water.

Origin:

• Methanol got the name "wood alcohol" because it was originally produced by the destructive distillation of wood. 
• Nowadays, it is primarily made from natural gas or other carbon-based sources.

Main Applications of Methanol

Industrial Use:

• Solvent: Methanol is widely used as a solvent in products such as paints, varnishes, and resins.
• Formaldehyde Production: It is a key raw material for producing formaldehyde (CH₂O), which is used in the manufacturing of plastics, resins, and other synthetic chemicals.
• Antifreeze: Methanol is used as an antifreeze agent because it effectively lowers the freezing point of water.

Energy Source:

• Methanol can be used as a biofuel. It is biodegradable and can serve as an alternative to ethanol or other energy sources.

Other Applications:

• Methanol is also used in chemical synthesis, including processes like gasification, propylene production, and other industrial chemical reactions.

Methanol Toxicity

• Methanol is highly toxic, and its ingestion can lead to severe health issues. 
• The main reason for its toxicity lies in its metabolites, such as formic acid (HCOOH), which are produced in the body when methanol is metabolized. 
• These metabolites are responsible for the harmful effects. 
• Methanol poisoning can occur even with relatively small amounts of ingestion.

Effects of Methanol

• Blindness:
  • Methanol is metabolized into formic acid in the body, which damages the optic nerve (the nerve responsible for vision), leading to permanent blindness. 
  • This is why methanol is sometimes referred to as "eye poison."
• Death:
  • High doses of methanol can lead to respiratory failure, organ failure, shock, and ultimately death. 
  • The liver and kidneys are especially vulnerable to the toxic effects of methanol.
• Other Effects:
  • In less severe cases, methanol poisoning can cause symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and mental confusion.
  • Large quantities of methanol can also cause low blood pressure, heart problems, and breathing difficulties.

Methanol in Illegally Produced Alcohol (Hooch)

• Illegally produced alcohol, commonly referred to as hooch or counterfeit alcohol, often contains methanol. 
• This is done to reduce production costs and increase profits, as methanol is cheaper than ethanol (drinking alcohol). 
• Since methanol has similar taste and odor characteristics to ethanol, it is often undetectable, and people consuming such alcohol may unknowingly ingest methanol, resulting in severe poisoning.

Potential Hazards:

• Blindness and Death: The presence of methanol in counterfeit alcohol can lead to blindness or death due to the toxic effects.
• Social and Health Problems: The consumption of illegal alcohol not only poses health risks but also leads to social and legal issues. 
• The widespread consumption of contaminated hooch can become a public health crisis.

Treatment for Methanol Poisoning

Treatment Procedure:

• Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is used to inhibit the metabolism of methanol because it competes with methanol for the same enzyme in the liver. 
• This prevents the conversion of methanol into its toxic metabolites.
• Folic Acid is also used to help metabolize formic acid and reduce its toxic effects.
• Gastric lavage (stomach pumping) may be performed if methanol ingestion is recent.
• In severe cases, haemodialysis (blood filtration) is used to remove methanol and its toxic metabolites from the bloodstream.