Product Overview
This is a ready-to-use 60/40 (v/v) solution of methanol and deionized water, supplied at ACS Grade purity. The ratio is factory-set, eliminating the mixing step and the measurement error that comes with it. It arrives as a clear, colorless liquid with a faint alcoholic odor, packaged in containers from 1-quart bottles up to 330-gallon totes.
The primary buyers are analytical labs running reversed-phase HPLC, QC departments preparing mobile phases, and pharmaceutical operations that need a controlled methanol/water binary solvent at a grade-specific sourcing tier. If your method calls for a 60:40 methanol-water mobile phase, this is the product — premixed, ACS-grade, lot-traceable.
Why This Concentration
A 60/40 methanol-to-water ratio sits in the moderately polar range of the binary solvent spectrum. In reversed-phase chromatography, that ratio provides enough organic strength to elute mid-polarity analytes without pushing nonpolar compounds through the column too fast. It is one of the most commonly specified mobile phase compositions in routine HPLC work.
ACS Grade matters here because trace-level impurities in either the methanol or the water directly affect baseline noise, ghost peaks, and detector sensitivity — particularly in UV detection below 210 nm. A premixed ACS-grade solution gives you a single lot number and a single certificate of analysis covering the blend, rather than two separate reagent lots you have to qualify independently.
For labs that need a higher organic fraction (say, 70:30 or neat methanol) for faster elution of hydrophobic analytes, or a lower fraction (50:50, 40:60) for better resolution of polar compounds, those blends exist as separate SKUs. This 60/40 hits the midpoint that works for a wide range of standard methods.
Chemical Profile
The solution is a clear, colorless liquid with a slight alcoholic odor in its pure form. Its density is 0.90 g/mL at 20 °C, reflecting the 60% methanol content (pure methanol runs about 0.791 g/mL; the water fraction brings the blend density up). The methanol component has the molecular formula CH₄O, a molecular weight of 32.042 g/mol, and a CAS number of 67-56-1. The neat methanol is fully miscible with water — solubility is reported at ≥100 mg/mL at 70 °F. Vapor pressure is significant: 100 mmHg at 70.2 °F, climbing to 237.87 mmHg at 100 °F. That volatility is relevant to lab ventilation planning and storage — even the 60/40 blend generates appreciable vapor at room temperature.
Industrial Applications
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HPLC Mobile Phase — The most common use for this product. Reversed-phase HPLC methods routinely specify methanol/water ratios as mobile phases, and 60/40 is among the most frequently called-out compositions. Using a premixed, ACS-grade blend eliminates variability from in-house mixing and ensures UV-grade purity across the run.
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Spectroscopy Solvent — Methanol-water mixtures serve as baseline solvents in UV-Vis spectroscopy. Methanol's low UV cutoff wavelength makes this blend suitable for measurements where solvent absorbance would otherwise interfere with analyte detection.
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Extraction Medium — In pharmaceutical manufacturing and natural-products chemistry, methanol-water solutions are used in liquid-liquid extraction to isolate intermediates and target compounds from complex matrices. The 60/40 ratio offers a useful balance of organic solvation and aqueous miscibility for partitioning work.
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Reagent Solvent — Various organic reactions use methanol-water as a reaction medium, particularly where a protic, partially aqueous environment improves yield or selectivity. The premixed blend simplifies setup for these procedures.
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Laboratory Cleaning — Methanol-water solutions dissolve a broad range of organic residues from glassware, chromatography columns, and instrument flow paths. The 60/40 ratio is strong enough to remove nonpolar films while remaining water-miscible for easy rinsing.
Handling & Storage
Methanol is acutely toxic by ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption. The signal word is Danger (per the product's GHS classification). The applicable hazard statements are:
- H225 — Highly flammable liquid and vapor
- H301 — Toxic if swallowed
- H311 — Toxic in contact with skin
- H331 — Toxic if inhaled
- H370 — Causes damage to organs
These are not casual warnings. Methanol exposure is cumulative, and the toxic effects — particularly on the optic nerve and central nervous system — can appear hours after exposure. Every person in the area where this product is handled must understand that.
PPE requirements: chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile or butyl rubber), splash-proof safety goggles, and a lab coat or chemical apron. Use only in well-ventilated areas or under a fume hood. If ventilation is insufficient, use a respirator rated for organic vapors.
Store in a cool, dry location away from heat, sparks, and open flame. Keep containers tightly sealed when not in use — the vapor pressure at room temperature is high enough to generate a flammable atmosphere in poorly ventilated spaces. HDPE or glass containers are suitable. Keep away from strong oxidizers and concentrated acids, which can react violently with methanol.
Hazmat & Shipping
This product ships as a DOT-regulated hazardous material. Every shipment from our Taylor, TX facility is packaged and labeled to full DOT/IATA compliance:
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UN Number: UN1230 (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Proper Shipping Name: Methanol (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Hazard Class: 3 (Flammable Liquid), Subsidiary Hazard 6.1 (Toxic) (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Packing Group: II (per 49 CFR 172.101)
All containers are packed to meet Packing Group II performance standards — inner packaging, absorbent material, and UN-rated outer packaging. Shipping documentation, hazmat placarding, and carrier coordination are handled by our operations team. We ship hazmat daily via ground carriers and can arrange air freight where regulations and carrier programs permit.
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet ships with every order, available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. A Technical Data Sheet is also available on request. Each lot ships with a lot-specific Certificate of Analysis so you can verify that the blend meets your method requirements before putting it into service.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
We are a hazmat distributor operating out of Taylor, TX. we distribute this product, pack it to DOT spec, and ship it — that is what we do, every day. Our shipping and handling guidance is reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist, so the packaging, labeling, and documentation meet the standard before the carrier picks it up. We carry inventory from quart bottles through 330-gallon totes, and we ship daily. If your lab or plant needs a premixed methanol/water mobile phase at ACS-grade purity, delivered in DOT-compliant packaging, this is where to get it.
