Deicing compositions comprising calcium magnesium acetate double salt and processes for their production

Claim 2

A composition comprising less than about 8% by weight crystalline calcium acetate, less than about 8% by weight magnesium acetate, about 1% to about 3% by weight unreacted base, less than about 5% by weight water and the remainder being calcium magnesium acetate double salt.

Claim 3

A composition according to claim 1 containing less than about 5 percent by weight crystalline calcium acetate, less than about 5 percent by weight magnesium acetate, and about 1 percent by weight unreacted magnesium base.

Claim 4

A composition according to claim 1 which is substantially anhydrous.

Claim 5

A composition according to claim 1 containing less than about 2.5 percent by weight water. acetate, and less than about 1 percent by weight unreacted magnesium base.

Claim 6

A composition according to claim 1 which exhibits TGA-GC-MSD spectra substantially the same as FIGS. 6A, 8A to 8D or 9A to 9D and an X-ray diffraction pattern substantially the same as FIG. 7C, 7D or 7G.

Claim 7

A composition according to claim 1 having a calcium:magnesium ratio of about 4:6 to about 3:7.

Claim 8

A composition according to claim 6 having a calcium:magnesium ratio of about 3:6 to about 3:7.

Claim 9

A composition according to claim 7 which exhibits TGA-GC-MSD spectra substantially the same as FIGS. 8A to 8D or 9A to 9D and an X-ray diffraction pattern substantially the same as FIG. 7C, 7D or 7G.

Claim 10

A composition according to claim 1 having the empirical formula: Ca.sub.x Mg.sub.y (C.sub.2 H.sub.3 O.sub.2).sub.2(x+y) wherein x is 3 to 4 and y is 7 to 6.

Claim 11

A composition according to claim 9 which exhibits TGA-GC-MSD spectra substantially the same as FIGS. 6A, 8A to 8D or 9A to 9D and an X-ray diffraction pattern substantially the same as FIG. 7C, 7D or 7F.

Claim 12

A composition according to claim 9 containing less than about 2.5 weight percent water.

Claim 13

A composition according to claim 11 containing less than about 5 percent by weight crystalline calcium acetate, less than about 5 percent by weight magnesium acetate and about 1 percent by weight unreacted magnesium base.

Claim 14

A composition according to claim 12 which exhibits TGA-GC-MSD spectra substantially the same as FIGS. 6A, 8A to 8D or 9A to 9D and an X-ray diffraction pattern substantially the same as FIG. 7C, 7D or 7G.

Claim 15

A deicing composition which comprises a plurality of layers of a composition according to claim 9 on discrete substrate particles.

Claim 16

A deicing composition according to claim 14 wherein said substrate particles comprise a traction aid.

Claim 17

A deicing composition according to claim 14 wherein said substrate particles comprise particles of a calcium magnesium acetate double salt.

Claim 18

A deicing composition comprising a composition according to claim 1 which has a bulk density of at least about 40 pounds per cubic foot, a particle specific gravity greater than about 1.2 and attrition of less than about 3 percent.

Claim 19

A pelletized deicing composition comprising a composition according to claim 9 which has a bulk density of at least about 40 pounds per cubic foot, a particle specific gravity greater than about 1.2 and attrition of less than about 3 percent.

Claim 20

A process for preparing a calcium magnesium acetate double salt which is substantially free from crystalline calcium acetate, magnesium acetate and unreacted magnesium base which comprises: (a) preparing an aqueous mixture of CM base having a calcium:magnesium ratio of from about 4:6 to about 3:7 which contains at least about 40 percent by weight water; (b) admixing the mixture of step (a) with from about 70 percent to about 110 percent of the stoichiometric amount of acetic acid necessary to convert said CM base to said double salt, the resulting mixture containing at least about 50 percent by weight water to give a CMA slurry; (c) if required, adding sufficient additional acetic acid to said slurry so that the total amount of acetic acid is approximately the stoichiometric amount of acetic acid necessary to convert said CM base to said double salt; and (d) aging the CMA slurry to allow substantially complete reaction of the CM base with acetic acid.

Claim 21

A process for preparing a calcium magnesium acetate double salt which is substantially free from crystalline calcium acetate, magnesium acetate and unreacted magnesium base which comprises: (a) preparing an aqueous mixture of CM base having a calcium:magnesium ratio of from about 4:6 to about 3:7 which contains at least about 40 percent by weight water; (b) admixing the mixture of step (a) with from about 70 percent to about 110 percent of the stoichiometric amount of acetic acid necessary to convert said CM base to said double salt, the resulting mixture containing at least about 50 percent by weight water to give a CMA slurry; (c) if required, adding sufficient additional acetic acid to said slurry so that the total amount of acetic acid is approximately the stoichiometric amount of acetic acid necessary to convert said CM base to said double salt; and (d) aging the CMA slurry to allow substantially complete reaction of the CM base with acetic acid.

Claim 22

A process according to claim 19 further comprising: (e) drying and pelletizing the slurry of step (d) to give a dry, free-flowing product.

Claim 23

A process according to claim 20 wherein said drying and pelletizing of step (e) comprises distributing the slurry of step (d) in a thin layer on discrete substrate particles and drying the substrate particles.

Claim 24

A process according to claim 21 wherein in step (e) the slurry of step (d) is distributed in a thin layer on a falling curtain of discrete substrate particles in the presence of heated gas to give layered particles.

Claim 25

A process according to claim 22 further comprising: (f) repeating step (e) to give layered particles having a plurality of layers on said particles.

Claim 26

A process according to claim 19 wherein step (b) further comprises simultaneous admixing the mixture of step (a) and said amount of acetic acid.

Claim 27

A process according to claim 24 wherein step (c) further comprises measuring the pH of the slurry of step (b) and, if necessary, adding sufficient acetic acid to give a pH of about 7 to about 8.5.

Claim 28

A process according to claim 19 wherein step (d) is conducted at a temperature of at least about 150° F.

Claim 29

A process according to claim 19 wherein step (d) is conducted at a temperature of about 170° F. to about 200° F.

Claim 30

A process according to claim 27 wherein the CMA slurry contains from about 55 percent by weight to about 68 percent by weight water.

Claim 31

A process according to claim 27 wherein step (b) further comprises admixing about 90 percent by weight of the stoichiometric amount of acetic acid.

Claim 32

A process according to claim 29 wherein step (d) comprises aging said slurry for at least about 3.5 hours.

Claim 33

A process for preparing a calcium magnesium acetate double salt which is substantially free from crystalline calcium acetate, magnesium acetate and unreacted magnesium base and which is substantially anhydrous, comprising: (a) preparing an aqueous mixture of CM base having a calcium:magnesium ratio of about 4:6 to about 3:7 which contains at least about 40 percent by weight water; (b) simultaneously admixing the mixture of step (a) with about 90 percent of the stoichiometric amount of acetic acid necessary to convert said CM base to said double salt; the resulting mixture containing at least about 50 percent by weight water, to give a CMA slurry; (c) in necessary, adding additional acetic acid to give a pH of about 7 to about 8.5; (d) aging the CMA slurry to allow substantially complete reaction of the CM base with acetic acid; and (e) drying and pelletizing the slurry of step (d) to give a dry, free-flowing product.

Claim 34

A process for preparing a calcium magnesium acetate double salt which is substantially free from crystalline calcium acetate, magnesium acetate and unreacted magnesium base and which is substantially anhydrous, comprising: (a) preparing an aqueous mixture of CM base having a calcium:magnesium ratio of about 4:6 to about 3:7 which contains at least about 40 percent by weight water; (b) simultaneously admixing the mixture of step (a) with about 90 percent of the stoichiometric amount of acetic acid necessary to convert said CM base to said double salt; the resulting mixture containing at least about 50 percent by weight water, to give a CMA slurry; (c) in necessary, adding additional acetic acid to give a pH of about 7 to about 8.5; (d) aging the CMA slurry to allow substantially complete reaction of the CM base with acetic acid; and (e) drying and pelletizing the slurry of step (d) to give a dry, free-flowing product.

Claim 35

A process according to claim 31 wherein step (d) is conducted at a temperature of at least about 150° F.

Claim 36

A process according to claim 31 wherein step (d) is conducted at a temperature of about 170° F. to about 200° F.

Claim 37

A process according to claim 32 wherein said drying and pelletizing of step (e) comprises distributing the slurry of step (d) in a thin layer on discrete substrate particles and drying the substrate particles.

Claim 38

A process according to claim 34 wherein said distributing of step (e) is done without additional atomizing air.

Claim 39

A process for preparing a calcium magnesium acetate double salt having the empirical formula: Ca.sub.x Mg.sub.y (C.sub.2 H.sub.3 O.sub.2).sub.2(x+y) wherein x is 3 to 4 and y is 7 to 6 which is substantially free of crystalline calcium acetate, magnesium acetate and unreacted magnesium base comprising: (a) preparing an aqueous, flowable mixture of CM base having a calcium:magnesium ratio of about 4:6 to about 3:7; (b) admixing the mixture of step (a) with from about 70 percent to about 110 percent of the stoichiometric amount of acetic acid necessary to convert said CM base to said double salt to give a CMA slurry, said slurry containing sufficient water to be fluid and pumpable; (c) if required, adding sufficient additional acetic acid to said slurry so that the total amount of added acetic acid is approximately the stoichiometric amount of acetic acid necessary to convert said CM base to said double salt; and (d) aging the CMA slurry to allow substantially complete reaction of the CM base with acetic acid.

Claim 40

A process for preparing a calcium magnesium acetate double salt having the empirical formula: Ca.sub.x Mg.sub.y (C.sub.2 H.sub.3 O.sub.2).sub.2(x+y) wherein x is 3 to 4 and y is 7 to 6 which is substantially free of crystalline calcium acetate, magnesium acetate and unreacted magnesium base comprising: (a) preparing an aqueous, flowable mixture of CM base having a calcium:magnesium ratio of about 4:6 to about 3:7; (b) admixing the mixture of step (a) with from about 70 percent to about 110 percent of the stoichiometric amount of acetic acid necessary to convert said CM base to said double salt to give a CMA slurry, said slurry containing sufficient water to be fluid and pumpable; (c) if required, adding sufficient additional acetic acid to said slurry so that the total amount of added acetic acid is approximately the stoichiometric amount of acetic acid necessary to convert said CM base to said double salt; and (d) aging the CMA slurry to allow substantially complete reaction of the CM base with acetic acid.

Claim 41

A process according to claim 36 further comprising: (e) drying and pelletizing the slurry of step (d) to give a dry, free-flowing product which is substantially anhydrous.

Claim 42

A process for preparing a calcium magnesium acetate double salt which is substantially free from crystalline calcium acetate magnesium acetate and unreacted magnesium base which comprises: (a) preparing an aqueous mixture of CM base having a calcium:magnesium ratio of from about 4:6 to about 3:7 which contains at least about 40 percent by weight water; (b) admixing the mixture of step (a) with from about 70 percent to about 110 percent of the stoichiometric amount of acetic acid necessary to convert said CM base to said double salt and, if necessary, adding sufficient additional acetic acid to said slurry so that the total amount of acetic acid is approximately the stoichiometric amount necessary to convert said CM base to said double salt, so that substantially complete reaction occurs.

Claim 43

A process for preparing a calcium magnesium acetate double salt which is substantially free from crystalline calcium acetate magnesium acetate and unreacted magnesium base which comprises: (a) preparing an aqueous mixture of CM base having a calcium:magnesium ratio of from about 4:6 to about 3:7 which contains at least about 40 percent by weight water; (b) admixing the mixture of step (a) with from about 70 percent to about 110 percent of the stoichiometric amount of acetic acid necessary to convert said CM base to said double salt and, if necessary, adding sufficient additional acetic acid to said slurry so that the total amount of acetic acid is approximately the stoichiometric amount necessary to convert said CM base to said double salt, so that substantially complete reaction occurs.

Claim 44

A process according to claim 38 further comprising: (a) drying and pelletizing the slurry of step (b) to give a dry, free-flowing product which is substantially anhydrous.