Demonstrate a Low Biochemical Oxygen Demand Aircraft Deicing Fluid

WP-200905

Objective

U.S. Air Force aircraft must be able to fly in adverse weather conditions, and deicing aircraft in adverse weather is a critical component of this requirement. Currently, aircraft deicing fluid (ADF) runoff is second only to noise as an environmental problem at airports, according to a Government Accounting Office (GAO) report. At the root of this problem are highly water-soluble deicing fluids that exert a very high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) on stormwater runoff as well as an increased cost at treatment plants. Oxygen depletion in receiving waters depends on a dynamic balance between the rate of oxygen consumption by the biodegradable fluid and the rate of replenishment from the atmosphere. The objective of this project is to demonstrate and validate an environmentally advantaged ADF, specifically its deicing effectiveness and compatibility with current deicing equipment. Subsequent to the demonstration, analysis of results and application of a formal Decision Support Tool template will demonstrate superiority of the fluid from an environmental and cost-related standpoint.

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Technology Description

This project is a continuation of a previous ADF demonstration conducted under ESTCP project SI-200124. That effort involved a biodegradable ADF developed by Battelle Memorial Institute and referred to as Degradable by Design Deicer TM (D3). The D3 ADF formulation began as a bio-based polyol fluid containing no propylene glycol (PG) and having a significantly reduced BOD. The formulation has been modified to include a portion of PG to reduce the residue left on the aircraft during the demonstrations and is now marketed as EcoFlo by Octagon Processes, Inc. In this field demonstration, critical performance factors will be evaluated for operational acceptance by flight crews and ground crews. These include fluid odor, compatibility with equipment, effective coating with complete surface wetting and no fisheyes or other visible anomalies, time, and amount of fluid required in comparison.

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Benefits

The benefit of a successful demonstration is the option to use a fluid utilizing the waste products of biofuel production as opposed to PG fluids, which are derived from petroleum. The cost of EcoFlo should remain low with the current trend of increasing biofuel production, while the cost of PG fluids will increase as petroleum prices rise. The EcoFlo ADF will also assuage environmental costs with a BOD and chemical oxygen demand much lower than that of PG-based fluids. (Anticipated Project Completion - 2011)

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Points of Contact

Principal Investigator

Ms. Mary Wyderski

U.S. Air Force

Phone: 937-656-5570

Fax: 937-904-8458

Program Manager

Weapons Systems and Platforms

SERDP and ESTCP

Document Types

  • Fact Sheet - Brief project summary with links to related documents and points of contact.
  • Final Report - Comprehensive report for every completed SERDP and ESTCP project that contains all technical results.
  • Cost & Performance Report - Overview of ESTCP demonstration activities, results, and conclusions, standardized to facilitate implementation decisions.
  • Technical Report - Additional interim reports, laboratory reports, demonstration reports, and technology survey reports.
  • Guidance - Instructional information on technical topics such as protocols and user’s guides.
  • Workshop Report - Summary of workshop discussion and findings.
  • Multimedia - On demand videos, animations, and webcasts highlighting featured initiatives or technologies.
  • Model/Software - Computer programs and applications available for download.
  • Database - Digitally organized collection of data available to search and access.