Blue Planet, Green Ideas.
The Quebec-based company Electro Carbon has developed a more eco-friendly de-icing liquid to clear airport runways.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, LA PRESSE
As our politicians call for prioritizing Canadian-made products in response to U.S. tariff threats, airports are turning to a "green" de-icing liquid made in Quebec from CO₂ and electricity to keep their runways clear.
Before this innovation, airports had to import tanker loads of de-icing products from Asia or the Middle East. According to its creators, the liquid produced in Quebec could reduce CO₂ emissions by 2.15 tons per ton of potassium formate compared to current fossil fuel-based processes. That’s equivalent to the emissions of 2,337 cars in a year.
The Saint-Hubert Airport (Longueuil)—now named MET – Montreal Metropolitan Airport (YHU)—and Mirabel Airport (YMX) are among the first to adopt this new de-icing liquid, along with the airports in Trois-Rivières (YRQ) and Mont-Joli (YYY) in Gaspésie, where winter conditions are often treacherous for aircraft.
We worked like crazy for years to produce this green molecule, this green juice. Today, we have succeeded in creating the world's cleanest runway de-icer.
Martin Larocque, President and Co-founder of Electro Carbon
Dish Soap
Amid a snowstorm in late January, the maintenance manager of MET – Montreal Metropolitan Airport (YHU) welcomes us into the de-icing vehicle garages in Longueuil.
For me, buying de-icer made in Quebec is like switching from one brand of dish soap to another. It’s essentially the same product, with the same effectiveness—except this one isn’t made overseas," explains Benoit Poliquin, as he describes how a spreading truck operates, its tank resembling a funnel.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, LA PRESSE
Benoit Poliquin, Maintenance Manager at MET – Montreal Metropolitan Airport, Longueuil
To prevent corrosion on wings, brakes, or propeller engines, road salt is never used on airport runways. As for gravel, it poses an obvious risk to aircraft fuselages and undercarriages. With commercial planes approaching at speeds of around 250 km/h, runways must be flawless—just like on a perfect summer day.
According to Jean-Denis Brassard, research professor at the International Anti-Icing Materials Laboratory (LIMA) of the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), the de-icing liquid developed by Electro Carbon—produced at its South Shore facility—meets the highest standards, certified under AMS1435E.
It’s innovative, and it’s made from a pollutant—CO₂
Brassard believes that, with the right formulation, municipalities could use this de-icer on sidewalks, roads, and bridges, at a lower cost than the high-concentration version required for airports.
Research on de-icing solutions dates back to the 1990s, he explains. Scientists quickly realized the damage caused by road salt, particularly to bridge structures like Champlain and Jacques-Cartier.
In recent years, we’ve studied products from Asia, but they require fossil fuels. De-icers are complex to develop for many reasons—one being that salt loses its effectiveness below -14°C. Another is that improper de-icing of aircraft wings or runways can lead to fatal aviation accidents.
An Electrolyzer
Without revealing industrial secrets, Martin Larocque, President and Founder of Electro Carbon, along with Ulrich Legrand, Chief Technology Officer, explains that the development of a massive "electrolyzer" is at the heart of producing their "green" de-icing liquid.
Instead of capturing carbon—such as storing it in rock—it is "transformed."
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, LA PRESSE
Martin Larocque, President and Co-founder of Electro Carbon
“This is the key,” says Martin Larocque. The result is a non-corrosive, chloride-free liquid. “It’s biodegradable and doesn’t accelerate the deterioration of bridges, roads, etc.,” he adds.
According to Marc Olivier, environmental chemist and hazardous materials management specialist at the Université de Sherbrooke, the next step is to assess the ecological footprint of CO₂-based potassium formate on water, soil, and air. A frequent expert for environmental cases reviewed by the Montérégie Regional Environmental Council, Olivier calls it a "major technological breakthrough." However, he also notes that producing this de-icer is at least 10 times more expensive than its Asian or Middle Eastern counterparts.
I see that the company is also marketing its product for agriculture—as a fertilizer—and in the heat transfer fluid industry. That’s one way to make it profitable. Yes, this represents the future, but a diversified one.
Published on February 10
Sara Champagne La Presse