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faqs
Your Frequently Asked Questions
Our FAQ page evolves as we identify additional universal questions. If you have a question not listed below, please call us! We will answer your question and also consider it as a candidate for our FAQs.
Coburn Chemicals is focused in Ice Melt, Waste-Water Treatment and Industrial Chemical products. As our business grows with your success, we’re eager to provide you with any resources we can to achieve that goal.
Below you will find a list of Frequently Asked Questions & Answers that you may find helpful, and we encourage you to share this information with your customers as well. And as always, feel free to contact us with any additional questions you may have regarding de-icing chemicals and procedures, water treatments and freeze-resistant products.
Ice Melt, De-Icing & Dust Control Products
Q: Vegetation surrounding areas that I’ve treated with ice melt is dead or browning. What can I do to prevent this?
A: The main cause of dead or browning plants is over application of ice melting compounds. When the ice and snow starts melting the liquid brine can run off onto lawns and nearby vegetation causing this problem if ice melters are over applied, especially ice melters with high chloride content. Be sure to apply ice melters as is recommended on the bag to prevent this problem.
Q: Product residue is tracking into my home or building.
A: Ice melt is probably being over-applied. Read and follow application rates as given on the bag to eliminate excessive ice melter residue being carried into homes and office buildings. Throw mats at the entrances of buildings are recommended during winter months for additional protection from carrying residue into the building.
Q: I recently had new concrete walks and driveways poured at my facility. I’ve heard that ice melt products may damage new concrete.
A: Concrete requires a minimum of one year to fully cure before any ice melt product is applied. The freeze/thaw cycles that occur in winter are stressful if the concrete has not been properly formulated, finished and cured by standards required by the American Concrete Institute. During that first year, traction aides such as sand can be used in place of ice melt.
Q: Why is dust control important?
A: A dusty road surface is a deteriorating surface. Once the fine material is lost, the aggregate in the paved surface follows, resulting in ruts and potholes that require costly spot repairs. Calcium chloride or magnesium chloride is spread on dirt road surfaces and constructions site roads for road stability by drawing moisture from the air to help compaction of the road surface and keep dust under control.
Q: What are liquid de-icers and how are they used?
A: Liquid ice-melters are frequently used for several purposes: 1) Anti-icing-where the liquid is applied to the pavement before an event to prevent the formation of an ice-pavement bond, 2) De-icing – the liquid is applied to the surface area after mechanical removal of ice and snow has been completed, and 3) Pre-wetting-where liquid is used to prewet solid chloride de-icers to reduce scatter, initiate brine formation, and/or lower the effective temperature of the solid de-icer. Liquid ice-melters come in a variety of forms and are used in many different applications. Contact your sales representative to find out if they are right for you.
Q: What is magnesium hydroxide slurry?
A: Magnesium hydroxide slurry is a non-hazardous chemical that is used in wastewater treatment to provide alkalinity and pH adjustment, among other benefits. It is the same chemical as in Milk of Magnesia, only much more concentrated. It provides more alkalinity than sodium hydroxide or soda ash, at a lower cost. Its cost stability, safety, and performance enhancements over lime and sodium-based products are making magnesium hydroxide the chemical of choice for many wastewater plants.
Q: What kind of “performance enhancements” does magnesium hydroxide provide?
A: Magnesium hydroxide offers benefits from the collection system through filter press. Under the tradename ThioguardTM, magnesium hydroxide is used to control sulfide odors, corrosion, and grease build up in the collection system. Once at the plant, magnesium hydroxide can continue to provide odor control while providing the necessary alkalinity and a stable pH for the nitrification process. Magnesium is also a micronutrient that helps stimulate biological activity and enhance biological phosphate uptake. As a divalent ion, magnesium helps improve settling and sludge dewatering, reducing sludge disposal costs and saving energy for those plants incinerating their sludge. Coburn Chemicals will provide a system assessment to determine the best feed point(s) for magnesium hydroxide slurry and identify how it can improve your plant’s performance.
Q: Can I put magnesium hydroxide slurry in my caustic tank?
A: No. Magnesium hydroxide slurry requires special tank configuration and pumping to ensure its successful application. Most magnesium hydroxide tank systems contain baffles, mixers and use peristaltic pumps to feed the product. A site assessment and system overview is critical to the successful implementation of magnesium hydroxide slurry. Coburn Chemicals provides trial, skid-mounted feed systems for its customers. During the trial, we will determine optimal feed rates, plant benefits, and help determine optimal feed system for permanent application.
Q: Do you offer any alternatives to methanol?
A: Coburn Chemicals is currently evaluating several non-hazardous products for use as a methanol replacement. Please contact us for the most up-to-date information regarding these developments.