Kurita Water Industries Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) has developed a safe and easy-to-carry solid methanol to be used in direct-methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Kurita has applied its proprietary inclusion technologies, which it uses in the water treatment process, to convert liquefied methanol into the solid state. Solid methanol that does not vaporize is delisted from regulations concerning dangerous and poisonous substances, as it poses no threat of leakage. Also, the solid fuel can be reused if methanol is chemically reacted with host compounds.
Kurita has filed applications for several patents, and the product will be registered for international safety standards concerning mobile device fuel cells. The company aims to commercialize solid methanol in 2007, in cooperation with personal computer and mobile device manufacturers. The company will exhibit a prototype mobile device battery charger that uses a solid methanol cartridge at New Earth 2005 to be held at Intex Osaka from October 26-29, 2005.
