Appendix I: Table of De-icing Materials De-icing Material Advantage Disadvantage *ethylene glycol non-corrosive can damage grass, threaten the health (liquid) of animals, and contaminate groundwater commonly mixed with urea: added processing and expense *potassium acetate an anti-icer corrosive, so often coupled with a (liquid) non-corrosive corrosion inhibitor biodegradable because it is biodegradable, it can requires fewer the oxygen levels in water and harm applications aquatic life because it keeps working longer freezing point: - *urea (both liquid sourcing (commonly used most of the urea sold for melting ice is and solid) in fertilizers) of an agricultural grade: too corrosive for most environments ^beet juice (liquid) an extra de-icer gums up spreader nozzles, making when others are distribution difficult used up in runoff can attract bacteria which when with salt, consume oxygen needed by other the sugar in it organisms lowers the freezing point to -25°F is sticky: keeps salt crystals from rolling away ^cheese brine a back-up de-icer, has an accompanying odor available in states with significant
Appendix I: Table of De-icing Materials De-icing Material Advantage Disadvantage *ethylene glycol (liquid) non-corrosive can damage grass, threaten the health of animals, and contaminate groundwater commonly mixed with urea: added processing and expense *potassium acetate (liquid) an anti-icer non-corrosive biodegradable requires fewer applications because it keeps working longer freezing point: corrosive, so often coupled with a corrosion inhibitor because it is biodegradable, it can the oxygen levels in water and harm aquatic life *urea (both liquid and solid) sourcing (commonly used in fertilizers) most of the urea sold for melting ice is of an agricultural grade: too corrosive for most environments ^beet juice (liquid) an extra de-icer when others are used up when with salt, the sugar in it lowers the freezing point to -25°F is sticky: keeps salt crystals from rolling away gums up spreader nozzles, making distribution difficult in runoff can attract bacteria which consume oxygen needed by other organisms ^cheese brine a back-up de-icer, available in states with significant has an accompanying odor -
Deicing%20Recommendation%20Report.docx