Editing Methanol (section)

====Energy carrier====
Methanol is a promising [[energy carrier]] because, as a liquid, it is easier to store than hydrogen and natural gas. Its [[energy density]] is, however, lower than [[methane]], per kg. Its combustion energy density is 15.6 [[joule|MJ]]/[[liter|L]] ([[Heat of combustion#Lower heating value|LHV]]), whereas that of ethanol is 24 and gasoline is 33 MJ/L.

Further advantages for methanol is its ready biodegradability and low environmental toxicity. It does not persist in either aerobic (oxygen-present) or anaerobic (oxygen-absent) environments. The half-life for methanol in groundwater is just one to seven days, while many common gasoline components have half-lives in the hundreds of days (such as [[benzene]] at 10–730 days). Since methanol is [[miscibility|miscible]] with water and biodegradable, it is unlikely to accumulate in groundwater, surface water, air or soil.<ref>[http://www.methanol.org/Environment/Resources/Environment/MP-Methanol-Fate.aspx Evaluation of the Fate and Transport of Methanol in the Environment] {{webarchive|url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160516022250/http://www.methanol.org/Environment/Resources/Environment/MP-Methanol-Fate.aspx |date=16 May 2016}}, Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., January 1999.</ref>