Method of using environmentally benign anti-icing or deicing fluids employing industrial streams comprising hydroxycarboxylic acid salts and/or other effective deicing/anti-icing agents

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for use of novel deicing and anti-icing compositions based on by-produce of off-specification materials from biodegradable and renewable sources and which also can be used in a variety of other services.

1 - 52 . (canceled)  
   
   
       53 . A method for lowering the pour point of biodiesel, said method comprising preventing or reducing crystallization of fatty acids, esters or alkaline salts of fatty acids in the biodiesel product by adding to said biodiesel an effective crystallization reducing or preventing amount of a composition, said composition comprising: 
 (i) a stream comprising biodegradable, soluble organic acid salts and/or esters produced during the course of a fermentation process by reaction with organic acids produced by said fermentation process, or by reaction with organic acids contained in an effluent from a fermentation process;    (ii) streams comprising biodegradable, soluble organic acid salts and/or esters comprising or produced from monomers, intermediates and/or polymers contained in or derived from waste streams derived from polymerization processes;    (iii) streams comprising polyhydroxy compounds produced during the course of a fermentation and/or enzyme catalyzed reaction process in which the substrate consists essentially of a carbohydrate plus necessary minerals and other nutrients; or    (iv) mixtures of two or more of i, ii and iii.    
   
   
       54 . A method as defined in  claim 53  wherein said composition is combined with an effective amount of an organic polymeric component selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxycarboxylic acids, methylmethacrylates, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polycaprolactone, and other synthetic and naturally-derived biodegradable polymers.  
   
   
       55 . A method as defined in  claim 53  wherein said composition is combined with an effective amount of pour point depressants the reducing amount of non-biodegradable components.  
   
   
       56 . A method as defined in  claim 53  further comprising a non-aqueous carrier fluid.  
   
   
       57 . A method as defined in  claim 56  wherein said inert non-aqueous carrier fluid is selected from the group consisting of diesel fuel, kerosene and common aromatic and agricultural solvents such as turpentine, limonene, or pinene.  
   
   
       58 . A method as defined in  claim 53  wherein said composition is combined with an effective freezing point reducing amount of an organic component selected from the group ethyl lactate, tributyl citrate, glycerol or glycol lactate, ethyl glycinate, ethyl levulinate, ethylenecarbonate, glycerin carbonate, pipecolic acid and its esters, tetrahydrofurfuryl acetate, tetrahydrofurfurly tetrahydrofuroate, glucose glutamate; acetals and ketals of glycerol such as 2,2dimethyl 1,3dioxolane 4-methanol.  
   
   
       59 . A method for preventing crystals of water and/or wax in jet and/or diesel fuel that can clog fuel filters, said method comprising adding to said jet and/or diesel fuel an effective crystal preventing amount of a composition as defined in  claim 53 .  
   
   
       60 . A method as defined in  claim 59  wherein said composition is combined with an effective amount of pour point depressants the reducing amount of non-biodegradable components.  
   
   
       61 . A method as defined in  claim 59  wherein said composition further comprising a non-aqueous carrier fluid.  
   
   
       62 . A method as in  claim 61  wherein said inert non-aqueous carrier fluid is selected from the group consisting of jet fuel, diesel fuel, kerosene and common aromatic and agricultural solvents such as turpentine, limonene and pinene.  
   
   
       63 . A method for lowering the pour point of vegetable oil esters, said method comprising preventing or reducing crystallization of fatty acids, esters or alkaline salts of fatty acids in the vegetable oil product by adding a compound that inhibits crystallization said compound being selected from the group consisting of esters of hydroxycarboxylic acids with or without an esterified polymer or unconverted biodegradable polymer.  
   
   
       64 . A liquid material as defined in  claim 63  wherein said composition is combined with an effective freezing point reducing amount of an organic component selected from the group ethyl lactate, tributyl citrate, glycerol or glycol lactate, ethyl glycinate, ethyl levulinate, ethylenecarbonate, glycerin carbonate, pipecolic acid and its esters, tetrahydrofurfuryl acetate, tetrahydrofurfurly tetrahydrofuroate, glucose glutamate; acetals and ketals of glycerol such as 2,2dimethyl 1,3dioxolane 4-methanol.