In recent years transportation agencies have seen increasingly relied on the use of chemical products to control snow/ice on roadways. Unfortunately, the affordable products available on the market are still fraught with concerns over their metal corrosion (chlorides), impact on concrete and asphalt (acetates), and toxicity to aquatic resources. A recently completed project demonstrated the feasibility of using a “green” additive sourced from waste sugar beet leaves for anti-icing, while a preliminary laboratory study revealed that a “green” additive sourced from apple pomace has promising corrosion inhibition efficiency; because the two feature distinctly different chemistry, they merit further investigation. The objective of this project is to develop innovative anti-icing and pre-wetting formulations for snow and ice control on roadways by using locally sourced agricultural wastes, fruit by-products, and other bio-based additives for freezing-point suppression, performance enhancement, and infrastructure preservation. This work will provide maintenance agencies with more options in their snow and ice control toolbox for sustainable winter road service. The exploration of bio-based renewable additives will also add value to agricultural wastes and fruit by-products and thus stimulate the local economy.
Principal Investigator: Xianming Shi, Civil and Environmental Engineering, WSU
Sponsor: Center for Environmentally Sustainable Transportation in Cold Climates
Scheduled completion: July 2018