Environmental Implications of the Use of “Ice Ban” as a Prewetting Agent for Sodium Chloride

Abstract

Ice Ban is the registered trade name of a group of agricultural byproducts patented for use as roadway deicing/anti-icing agents. Ice Ban is applied primarily in anti-icing operations as a direct liquid or prewetting agent. Because Ice Ban is far more expensive to use than the traditional chemicals for snow removal and ice control, it may be cost-effective only if it can reduce equipment corrosion, infrastructure damage, and the adverse environmental effects of traditional chemicals while maintaining at least the same level of service. A study was conducted to evaluate particular environmental effects of Ice Ban M50 when used as a prewetting agent for salt. The agent’s effects on turf grass seed, freshwater minnows, and roadside vegetation were determined and compared with the effects of salt alone, salt prewetted with magnesium chloride, or both. When used as a prewetting liquid at the spinner, Ice Ban M50 had little impact on the effect of salt on turf grass seed germination, freshwater minnow mortality, or roadside vegetation stress.