New methanol process developed by a UK university

The Oxford University team discovered a new method of creating methanol from industrial waste.

Converting [glycerol] to methanol gives you a portable store of energy and potentially an economically-viable new biofuel business

Edman Tsang

The method’s inventor

Researchers from Oxford University's Department of Chemistry have unveiled a process, which allows glycerol to be converted into the chemical, which can be used as a fuel in its own right or in manufacturing biodiesel.

Edman Tsang, the main inventor of the new method, which has been patented by technology transfer company Isis Innovation, said it is a way of producing methanol "for free".

Mr Tsang added: "Converting [glycerol] to methanol gives you a portable store of energy and potentially an economically-viable new biofuel business.

According to the researchers, 90 per cent of the world's methanol is currently produced from natural gases and the new technology is tipped to be a way to reduce the need for fossil fuels.

Last month, Isis Innovation announced it acquired another alternative energy project from the University of Oxford.

Researchers are working with the company to commercialise a hydrogen fuel cell, which uses enzymes rather than expensive metals such as platinum to produce electricity.