Concentration Preserving Deicing Solutions for Higher Ice Melting
The deicing ability of rock salt/sugar alcohols depends on their weight concentration in the deicing solution. For instance, the freezing point of salt brine falls from -4°F to 23°F when the concentration is lowered from 20% to 10%. Upon the application of the deicing solution, the melted ice dilutes the deicing solution and hence the deicing solution rapidly loses its capacity to melt more ice. Hence, additional deicing solution should be sprayed to deice the roads which will also become ineffective after melting some ice. In a nutshell, several batches of salt brine solution sprays are required to deice the roads as the deicer cannot preserve its concentration as the ice melts. A lot more snow/ice can be melted per gallon of the deicing solution if its concentration is preserved. This study addresses the lowering of efficiency of deicing solutions due to their dilution during the deicing process. Building on previous research experience, this will be accomplished by simultaneously spraying patentable water-absorbing material along with the deicing materials that will absorb the melted water preserving the concentration of the deicing solution which will continue to melt more ice without the need for additional sprays. The goal is to cut down the application of salt brine by half, saving material and operational costs to the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT). Lowering the application of chloride salts while improving the ice melting capacity will also benefit the general public due to the better flow of traffic, lowered passenger vehicle corrosion, improved crop productivity, and preservation of Iowa surface water bodies.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $159,697.00
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Contract Numbers:
TR-814
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Sponsor Organizations:
Iowa Department of Transportation
800 Lincoln Way
Ames, IA United States 50010 -
Managing Organizations:
Iowa Department of Transportation
800 Lincoln Way
Ames, IA United States 50010 -
Project Managers:
Goetz, Vanessa
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Performing Organizations:
660 S. College Ave
PO Box 873005
Tempe, Arizona United States 85287 -
Principal Investigators:
Yellavajjala, Ravi
- Start Date: 20230101
- Expected Completion Date: 20250228
- Actual Completion Date: 0
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Absorption; Deicing chemicals; Melting; Winter maintenance
- Geographic Terms: Iowa
- Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Materials; Pavements;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01945611
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Iowa Department of Transportation
- Contract Numbers: TR-814
- Files: RIP, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Feb 12 2025 12:32PM