Preliminary Design and Feasibility Study for a Calcium-Magnesium Acetate Unit

Abstract

The adverse environmental effects and corrosion problems associated with the use of chloride salts as de-icing agents have prompted a search for alternative de-icing compounds. Calcium and Magnesium Acetates (CMA) exhibit excellent de-icing characteristics yet are not corrosive or harmful to the environment. A viable process design for the production of CMA has been developed based on the results of a series of kinetic reaction experiments conducted at the University of Alaska. Acetic acid and native Alaskan limestones were used as the raw materials. An economic evaluation of the process indicates a selling price of less than $600/ton of solid CMA, based on teh production of a saturated, aqueous CMA solution in small scale facilities (10,000 - 50,000 gallons/day). At the upper range of production rates studied (50,000 GPD) and for an acetic acid cost of $1.25/gallon, the calculated CMA price was $290/ton of solid. This represents a minimum price and is attractive when compared with the cost of other de-icing compounds. The results of this cooperative project between the Petroleum Engineering Department at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks and the State D.O.T. are highly encouraging. With the use of native Alaskan limestone and acetic acid, the process economics point toward a high quality, competitively priced product. The environmental advantages of CMA over Chloride salts and reduced secondary costs due to lower corrosion rates for vehicles and bridges indicate that CMA may become the premier de-icing agent.