Methanol: The second most abundant ice species towards the high-mass protostars RAFGL7009S and W 33A

We present ground-based L-band spectra of the high-mass protostars RAFGL700 9S and W 33A. Absorption bands at 3.54, 3.84 and 3.94 mu m arise in both li nes of sight. We attribute these bands to the methanol v(3) CH3 symmetric s tretch and combination modes. The CH3OH abundance relative to wa ter ice is about 30% for RAFGL7009S and 5-22% for W 33A, making CH3OH the most abunda nt solid state molecule after H2O toward these two sources. The profiles of the absorption features toward these objects are very similar, showing tha t the methanol is located in similar ice environments. Detailed spectral co mparison with laboratory data implies that the methanol is not mixed unifor mly with the water ice. The similarities in the spectra of these two protos tars are discussed within the context of chemical differences along other l ines of sight. Methanol appears to be more efficiently produced on grain ma ntles in the vicinity of high-mass protostars than in other locations.