Coarse-particle calcium/magnesium acetate suitable for roadway and walkway deicing, and process for its manufacture

Claim 1

A process for the manufacture of calcium/magnesium acetate coarse particles suitable for roadway deicing comprising the following steps: (a) combining aqueous acetic acid with the stoichiometric requirement of lime in an agitated reaction vessel to form the calcium/magnesium acetate reaction batch; (b) controlling the water content of said reaction batch such that the mol ratio of water to calcium acetate contained therein does not exceed about 3.3; (c) controlling the concentration of aqueous acetic acid between the limits 84-100%; (d) controlling the mol ratio of magnesium to calcium in the lime between the limits 0-1; (e) controlling the agitation of the reaction vessel, and carrying out the agitation for a duration sufficient to form coarse particles or pellets of the desired size; and (f) drying the formed coarse particles in a conventional manner such that the residual water content of dried coarse particles be no less than 0.1-0.2 mols of water per mol of calcium acetate contained therein.