Methanol
Methanol from Lab Grade to LC/MS Grade, in stock and ready to ship.
Methanol looks the same in every bottle, clear and colorless, but what is actually in that bottle changes a lot depending on the grade. An LC/MS method needs a purity level that a Lab Grade product was never tested against, and the difference is not something you can see or smell.
Lab Alley carries methanol from Lab Grade up through LC/MS Grade, with ACS/USP/NF, HPLC, Semiconductor, Anhydrous Reagent, and Pesticide Residue grades in between. All nine products are priced and in stock online, with SDS and COA included. Methanol is highly toxic and highly flammable regardless of grade, so match the grade to your method and handle it with the respect a flammable, reproductive toxicant deserves.
256,000+
customers served
99.5%
of orders ship in 1–2 business days
98.9%
inventory accuracy
SDS + COA
available online, every product
Also Known As Methyl Alcohol, Wood Alcohol, And Wood Spirit
About Methanol
Methanol is a clear, colorless liquid at room temperature and is the simplest member of the alcohol family with the formula CH3OH. Also known as Methyl Alcohol, Wood Alcohol, and Wood Spirit, it is highly toxic to humans, and an extreme fire hazard.
Methanol is used to manufacture herbal solutions, in research and testing laboratories for phytochemical study, phytochemical analysis, and chemical synthesis, and to prepare methanol/water/acetic acid mixtures.
Methanol is a popular chemical precursor to other commodity chemicals and methylamines, converted into chemicals such as formaldehyde or acetic acid. It is used a gasoline additive in biodiesel, as well as in water methanol injections in high performance engines
Methanol Offerings at Lab Alley
Lab Alley has Methanol in the following grades and proofs:
Industries that use Methanol
Common Uses and Applications for Methanol
- Regent in the chemistry lab
- Solvent extraction of molecules from plants
- Precursor in chemical manufacture
- As a versatile solvent
- Denaturing ethanol
About Methanol
Methanol (CH3OH) is the simplest alcohol, a clear, colorless liquid with a molecular weight of 32.04, a boiling point of 64.7°C, and a density of 0.792 g/cm3. It is also known as methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, or wood spirit. Per Lab Alley's own safety data sheets, methanol is a Category 2 flammable liquid with GHS classifications for acute oral, dermal, and inhalation toxicity, along with organ toxicity from both single and repeated exposure. Single exposure targets the optic nerve and central nervous system, repeated exposure targets the kidney, liver, spleen, and blood, and the product also carries a reproductive harm warning. This is not a solvent to handle casually. Real ventilation and PPE matter here, at every grade.
COMMON APPLICATIONS
Methanol is used as a laboratory reagent, a solvent for extracting terpenes, tannins, alkaloids, and other compounds from plants, a precursor in the manufacture of formaldehyde and acetic acid, a component in methanol/water/acetic acid mixtures, a gasoline additive in biodiesel, and, in some formulas, a denaturant for ethanol.
GRADES EXPLAINED
Lab Grade has solid purity, around 99.85%, but is not tested to ACS, USP, or any certified standard, so it fits general research and educational use rather than food, drug, or trace analysis work. ACS Reagent/USP/NF Grade meets multiple pharmacopeial and reagent standards at once. HPLC and Preparative HPLC Grade are tested for the low UV absorbance and residue chromatography instruments need. LC/MS Grade goes further still, for mass spectrometry work where even trace contamination shows up in the data. Semiconductor Grade is formulated for electronics manufacturing, Pesticide Residue Grade is tested for the specific trace contaminants pesticide analysis screens for, and Anhydrous Reagent Grade, with or without molecular sieves, is dried to 30 ppm water or less for moisture sensitive reactions.
TYPES & GRADES AT A GLANCE
Is the general purpose entry point, for research and education.
Meets multiple certified standards at once for analytical work.
Is tested for the low residue and UV absorbance chromatography needs.
Is built for larger scale HPLC purification work.
Meets the purity level mass spectrometry work requires.
Is formulated for electronics manufacturing.
Is tested for the trace contaminants pesticide residue analysis screens for.
Is dried for moisture sensitive reactions.
WHY BUY FROM LAB ALLEY
256,000+ customers already order their chemicals from Lab Alley.
99.5% of orders ship within 1 to 2 business days, so a methanol order does not stall your production or research schedule.
98.9% inventory accuracy means the grade you see in stock is the grade that ships.
SDS and COA are available online for every methanol grade we carry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lab Grade or ACS Reagent/USP/NF Grade, what's actually different?
Lab Grade has solid purity, around 99.85%, but is not tested against any certified standard, fine for general research and educational use. ACS Reagent/USP/NF Grade meets multiple certified standards at once, American Chemical Society reagent specs plus pharmacopeial requirements, which is what a lot of regulated or published analytical work names by requirement.
Why does LC/MS Grade cost so much more than Lab Grade?
Mass spectrometry detects contamination other methods simply cannot see. LC/MS Grade methanol is tested and manufactured to a much tighter purity and trace metal spec than Lab Grade to keep up with that. The extra cost is the extra testing and processing, not just a fancier label.
Do I need a permit to buy methanol?
No. Methanol was never treated as a beverage alcohol, so there is no TTB permit or paperwork tied to any grade. It is still a flammable liquid and a reproductive toxicant, so expect standard hazardous material shipping handling, just not a purchase permit.
Is methanol Kosher or Halal certified?
No. None of our methanol grades currently carry Kosher or Halal certification. If you need a certified alcohol solvent, our ethanol or isopropyl alcohol categories have certified options.
Which grade should I use for botanical extraction versus electronics cleaning?
For extracting terpenes, tannins, and other compounds from plant material, Lab Grade or ACS Reagent Grade both work well and cost less than the specialty grades. For electronics manufacturing, Semiconductor Grade is formulated specifically for that low residue, low trace metal requirement.
How is methanol different from ethanol or isopropyl alcohol as a solvent?
Methanol is more toxic than either one, with real risks from skin absorption and inhalation, not just ingestion, so it demands more careful handling. It also brings different polarity and reactivity to some extractions and reactions. If your process works just as well with ethanol or isopropyl alcohol, those are usually the safer choice, and ethanol can also come certified.
Can I buy methanol in drums or totes?
Most grades ship up to a 55 gallon drum, and Lab Grade also goes up to a 270 gallon tote. The specialty grades, LC/MS, Semiconductor, Pesticide Residue, and Preparative HPLC, are typically stocked in smaller lab pack sizes rather than bulk. Contact us through Bulk & Custom Chemicals to confirm what is available.
Guides & Resources
Beginner’s guide to eco-friendly solvents
It’s hard to emphasize just how essential solvents are in our world today. Solvents account for 80% of chemicals used in chemical processes. ...
Read article → Industries That Use Methanol
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Learn more → If you are purchasing SDA in 5 gallons or more, you are required to provide a TTB permit showing how much of the product you are allowed to purchase per year. Please email your TTB permit to
customercare@laballey and include your Order Number.
