Methanol Diesel-15 fuel

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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