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 causes 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 a synthesis gas.
  • Feeding this synthesis gas into a reactor with a catalyst produces methanol and water vapor.
• 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.

Q1) What is Nitrogen dioxide?

It is a reddish-brown gas with the chemical formula NO2. It is one of the most significant and harmful nitrogen oxides. NO2 is a major component of smog and is a potent respiratory irritant. It is a byproduct of the reaction of nitric oxide (NO) with oxygen in the atmosphere.

Source: MD-15: The New Fuel that May Replace Diesel in Indian Railways’ Locomotives, Save Rs 2,280 Crore