Beet juice to melt snow and ice

[Paumon]

I was just hearing about how a number of cities in deep, deep freeze (-30 or more) are using a brine that is a combination of sugar beet juice and coarse rock salt on the streets to melt the ice/snow and create a tacky surface that permits traction. Apparently it works better than other chemical de-icers and is less harmful to pavements and to the environment.

So I was wondering if anyone here has experience with the beet juice brine - could such a brine also be used to spray on deep snow to melt it, and what kinds of effects would such a sticky brine have on the undercarriage of vehicles?

[farmerj]

we used a version of it in the MN DOT when I drove snow plow for them.

Sticky stuff. The issue with deep cold temps like that is not much works at all for melting ice.

About all you can do is coat everything with sand and hope for the best until the temps increase to 0*F or above.

[Paumon]

Thanks FarmerJ. Do you have any idea if it gums up the undersides of vehicles?

[farmerj]

can't say it's any worse than any other salt that's used on the road.

It all sucks for corrosion.

[unregistered5595]

Salt is salt, it will eat away at cars.

Here is your beet juice: http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/toronto-us...eets-1.1627195

and here in Wisconsin we use WHEY, Yes whey from cheese: http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/1...-clear-of-ice/

Anything with salt will do the trick. I'd imagine sauerkraut brine, dill pickle brine, jerky brine, olive brine, and any number of salt solutions are good for killing vegetation and melting ice and snow. We put sauerkraut brine and dill pickle brine down the driveway to kill off grass that sprouts in the driveway.

[Paumon]

Originally Posted by Feather In The Breeze

Salt is salt, it will eat away at cars.


Anything with salt will do the trick. I'd imagine sauerkraut brine, dill pickle brine, jerky brine, olive brine, and any number of salt solutions are good for killing vegetation and melting ice and snow. We put sauerkraut brine and dill pickle brine down the driveway to kill off grass that sprouts in the driveway.

Thanks for the links.

I know what salt solutions do regarding corrosion but what I'm most curious about is the effects of the sugars.

I noticed that one place is using molasses from sugar cane, and some places are using molasses from sugar beets. Sweet, sticky, gummy, tacky stuff. I guess the sticky sweet stuff may also cause some corrosion but I'm wondering if anyone knows if it would cause gumming or lacquering and jamming up on the undersides of vehicles, like the axles and other moving parts and the brake pads, and if it burns or smokes if it gets on hot mufflers and pipes?

[Paquebot]

We're using the beet juice mix here and I'm thinking that I like it for effectiveness at lower temperatures. Drawback is that any snow falling on it remains as slush for a lot longer than salt. Translated, means that the water doesn't evaporate as quickly as when salt is used. Much easier on the wipers when windshield is splashed. Mud flaps do perhaps build up ice a little quicker but don't imagine that they will fall off in the spring from corroded bolts. If nothing else, it may be aiding lubrication and corrosion prevention to anything in the undercarriage. Every vehicle I had was salted out after 10 years or less. Latest is 14 and still solid from being driven in an area where environmental concern is high on the list of winter priorities.

Martin

[Paumon]

Thanks Martin. That answers my curiosity about whether or not it would be more suitable for the north west coast which is so wet.

[big rockpile]

Will Fertilizer work better than Salt?

big rockpile

[Paquebot]

The only fertilizer which would work close to salt would be 62% muriate of potash. That's just as corrosive as salt and a lot more expensive.

Martin

[LisaInN.Idaho]

Originally Posted by Paumon

Thanks for the links.

I know what salt solutions do regarding corrosion but what I'm most curious about is the effects of the sugars.

I noticed that one place is using molasses from sugar cane, and some places are using molasses from sugar beets. Sweet, sticky, gummy, tacky stuff. I guess the sticky sweet stuff may also cause some corrosion but I'm wondering if anyone knows if it would cause gumming or lacquering and jamming up on the undersides of vehicles, like the axles and other moving parts and the brake pads, and if it burns or smokes if it gets on hot mufflers and pipes?

The beet extract is what is left after the sugars are removed so it's not sweet or sticky. They do use it in some places here in Idaho.

[wr]

Originally Posted by Paumon

I was just hearing about how a number of cities in deep, deep freeze (-30 or more) are using a brine that is a combination of sugar beet juice and coarse rock salt on the streets to melt the ice/snow and create a tacky surface that permits traction. Apparently it works better than other chemical de-icers and is less harmful to pavements and to the environment.

So I was wondering if anyone here has experience with the beet juice brine - could such a brine also be used to spray on deep snow to melt it, and what kinds of effects would such a sticky brine have on the undercarriage of vehicles?

It's used in Calgary with limited success. It's great up to about -20 or so and then it turns to a slippery gel. At super cold temperatures, it simply freezes.