Methanediol

Methanediol (CAS 463-57-0), also known as methylene glycol and formaldehyde hydrate, is the stable aqueous form of formaldehyde present in formalin solutions.

Where is Methanediol used?

• Pharmaceutical manufacturing: buffer systems and controlled formaldehyde-releasing agent for inactivating biological materials in vaccine production
• Biotechnology and life sciences: tissue fixation and cell preservation protocols
• Industrial and institutional cleaning: hard surface disinfection where its equilibrium drives antimicrobial efficacy
• Specialty chemical synthesis: pH-sensitive reactive species in condensation reactions
• It functions as a reactive intermediate and controlled-release formaldehyde source in industrial and laboratory processes.

Good to know: Precise, aqueous formaldehyde delivery is critical to sample integrity in these specialized fields.

Commercial specifications

• Aqueous solution, typically commercial formalin at standard concentrations
• Packaging from laboratory-scale containers to bulk industrial quantities