The invention relates to a fluid comprising or consisting of glycerol and potassium acetate in a weight ratio interval of 3:2 to 1:6 with a water content of 55-80 w %, wherein the combined weight of glycerol and potassium acetate constitutes 20-45 w %, up to a maximum or total of 100 w %. The inventive fluid is useful as a heat transfer fluid, a deicing fluid or a windscreen washing fluid. A method for producing the inventive fluid is also provided.

A deicer composition is disclosed. The deicer composition may comprise water, a metal chloride salt, and a biopolymer composition derived from wheat straw, alfalfa, or other cereal grain straws. The biopolymer composition may include inorganic material and a copolymer comprised of lignin and polysaccharides. The biopolymer composition may have an average molecular weight of between 3500 and 5500 Daltons. The metal chloride salt may be selected from magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and sodium chloride.

A brine machine comprises a salt hopper, a source of water for wetting salt in the salt hopper, a brine hopper positioned in side-by-side relation relative to the salt hopper, a filter providing fluid communication between the salt hopper and the brine hopper, a generally horizontal auger positioned in a base of the salt hopper, and an upwardly directed lift auger having a first end in operable association with an end of the horizontal auger and a second discharge end positioned above a level of brine in the brine hopper. The augers convey solid material from the base of the salt hopper and discharge the material from the machine.

This disclosure provides methods for fermentation of sugar substrates by acid-tolerant bacteria for producing acetic and lactic acids, and methods for further processing of these products to obtain acetate and propionate biodegradable deicers. Methods are also disclosed on the use of acid tolerant bacteria to produce acetate and propylene glycol deicing compounds.

An icephobic coating composition forms a coating layer that melts ice and snow upon contract and remains durable after several exposures to winter storms. The icephobic coating composition includes about 2.5% to about 12.5% by weight of latex polymer solids; about 30% to about 70% by weight of an inorganic halide salt; about 15% to about 50% by weight water; and about 1% to about 15% by weight of an organic co-solvent selected from glycerin, glycols, and glycol ethers. An alternative icephobic coating composition includes about 1% to about 20% by weight of a solution polymer instead of a latex polymer, and about 10% to about 40% by weight of a VOC-exempt organic solvent instead of the foregoing water and co-solvent.

The invention relates to a method for producing a formate, the method including a first step of reacting hydrogen with carbon dioxide, a hydrogen carbonate or a carbonate using a catalyst in the presence of a solvent to form a formate in the reaction liquid, wherein the reaction is a two-phase system in which an organic phase and an aqueous phase are present in a separated state in the solvent, and a base concentration in the reaction is 2.5 mol/L or more.

According to the invention, a melting and traction matrix for use on icy or wet surfaces comprising at least one melting agent and at least one substrate impregnated therewith and a method for making and using same are disclosed. The matrix is applied to surfaces where ice is present or anticipated. Upon surface contact, the substrate provides immediate traction and melting agent dissipates from the substrate. Further melting agent dissipates slowly by diffusion for a long-term, persistent effect. In combination with the substrate, the overall amount of melting agent may be controlled, thereby mitigating potential corrosive, toxic and adverse cosmetic and/or environmental effects. The remaining substrate after melting agent has totally diffused may provide longer traction benefit or may be swept away.

A deicing and snow melting device, for lowering the melting point of ice and snow, comprises of a plurality of pellets including an active ingredient. Each pellet of the plurality of pellets has at least an underside and a topside. The active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of chloride salts, organic compounds, alcohols or mixtures thereof. A base comprising a water-soluble sheet is joined to either one of the underside or topside of each pellet of the plurality of pellets. The base may define at least one hole through a top surface and bottom surface of the base allowing for easy dispersion of the active ingredient.

The invention relates to a method for producing a formate, the method including reacting hydrogen with carbon dioxide, a hydrogen carbonate or a carbonate using a catalyst in the presence of a solvent, wherein the reaction is a two-phase system in which an organic solvent and an aqueous solvent are present in a separated state in the solvent, and the catalyst is at least one selected from a ruthenium complex represented by the formula (1) in the specification, a tautomer or stereoisomer thereof, and a salt compound of the complex, tautomer or stereoisomer.

A device for melting snow includes a snow melting sheet formed of a plurality of particles of a snow and ice melting compound. The sheet is coated with a water-soluble adhesive coating applied to the particles of the snow and ice melting compound to bind the particles to form a sheet. After an area of ice and snow is melted with the sheet, the sheet simply dissolves. The sheets are presented in either a roll with perforations for tearing or a stack of connected or disconnected sheets.