Oxygen Release Compounds in Deicing Agents

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Solution Overview

Problem

Deicing chemicals, particularly organic deicers, deplete dissolved oxygen in receiving waters during biodegradation, leading to harmful anaerobic conditions for aquatic organisms.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating oxygen release compounds (ORCs) such as alkali and alkaline earth metal peroxides and percarbonates into deicer compositions to release oxygen and mitigate oxygen depletion, with calcium and magnesium peroxides being primary components, and potentially encapsulating them for controlled release.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If organic deicers are used for deicing, then corrosion damage to infrastructure is reduced, but dissolved oxygen depletion in receiving waters occurs due to biodegradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrosion damageVSAvoiddissolved oxygen depletion

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of biodegradation (oxygen depletion) into a beneficial process by adding oxygen-release compounds that actively supply oxygen during the biodegradation of organic deicers, transforming the anaerobic harmful condition into an aerobic beneficial condition for aquatic ecosystems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces oxygen-release compounds as an intermediary substance that mediates between the organic deicer and the aquatic environment, providing oxygen to counterbalance the oxygen consumed during biodegradation, thus protecting aquatic organisms without requiring changes to the deicer's primary function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If inorganic salts are used as deicers, then effectiveness and low cost are achieved, but corrosion damage to infrastructure and environmental accumulation occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeicing effectivenessVSAvoidcorrosion damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite deicing material that combines organic deicers (for effectiveness and biodegradability) with oxygen-release compounds (for oxygen supplementation), achieving both deicing performance and environmental protection without the corrosion issues of inorganic salts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The addition of ORCs helps maintain dissolved oxygen levels in receiving waters, protecting aquatic habitats by counteracting oxygen depletion caused by deicer biodegradation, with controlled release rates ensuring effective oxygen supplementation.

Implementation Method 1

oxygen containing compounds that can release oxygen to replace the oxygen that may be depleted during the biochemical decomposition of the organic deicer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDecomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS11384269B1Deicing agents containing oxygen release compounds

Publication Date: 2022.07.12 MATHEWS ALEXANDER P

AI summary

The present invention provides environmentally benign deicing compositions comprising deicers or anti-icing agents with oxygen release compounds for the mitigation of dissolved oxygen depletion in receiving waters due to the decomposition of organic deicers. The compositions also include additives for the effective release of oxygen from metal peroxides and for pH control as needed.