Methanol Production From Biogas: Current Status and Future Prospects

Methanol is a basic form of alcohol that results from the combination of a methyl group (CH3) and a hydroxy group (OH). The global demand for methanol is expected to reach 117 Mtons in coming years owing to its mass use in the petrochemical, transportation, and chemical industries. Methanol is primarily synthesized using non-renewable resources such as natural gas, coal, and cooking. The depleted natural resources are not only insufficient to sustain the ever-growing demand for methanol but also contribute to global warming. Biomass has the potential to be an alternative renewable source for methanol production. Numerous state-of-the-art studies established cost-effective and efficient processes for converting biomass into methanol. Commercial adoption of a biomass-to-methanol generation technique hinges on various factors such as the type of feed material, available infrastructure, and operation cost. This chapter provides a detailed overview of conventional and non-conventional approaches to methanol production from biomass. An overview of global biogas production has been presented to determine the practicality of implementing biomass-to-methanol generation on a large scale. Additionally, the chapter discusses the challenges and prospects of different state-of-the-art techniques available for methanol production from biogas.