Nonylphenol Ethoxylates and Other Additives in Aircraft Deicers, Antiicers, and Waters Receiving Airport Runoff

Abstract

Samples of nine different formulations of aircraft deicer and antiicer fluids (ADAF) were screened for the presence of selected surfactants. Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPnEO) were identified in three ADAF formulations, octylphenol ethoxylates were identified in two formulations, and six formulations contained alcohol ethoxylates. A preliminary field study was conducted at General Mitchell International Airport, Milwaukee, WI, to quantify NPnEO (n ) 1-15) and one of its byproducts, nonylphenol (NP), in airport runoff. Samples were collected from two airport outfalls, from the receiving stream, and from an upstream reference site during intensive ADAF application events. NPnEO was measured at concentrations up to 1190 µg/L in airport outfall samples, up to 77 ug/L in samples from the receiving stream and less than 5.0 µg/L from the upstream reference. Concentrations of glycol and other ADAF-related constituents, including NPnEO, were reduced by ∼1 order of magnitude between the outfall sites and the receiving stream site; however, concentrations of NP in the receiving stream remained similar to those from the outfalls (<0.04 µg/L at the upstream reference, 0.98 and 7.67 µg/L at outfalls, and 3.89 µg/L in the receiving stream). The field data suggest that NP is generated through degradation of NPnEO from airport runoff.

Sources of Alkylphenols and Alkylphenol Ethoxylates in Wastewater—A Substance Flow Analysis in Stockholm, Sweden

“…Finally, an inflow of 0.5-2.3 tons to Stockholm was estimated based on information of AP/APE in several other goods covering a large range of products, such as electronics, buildings and construction, the chemical industry, surface coatings (ECB 2002), water processing chemicals, perfumes and essences, antirust (Löfvén and Wahlberg 1997), de-icers (Corsi et al 2003) and several other applications (Products Register 2006).…”

Occurrence of benzotriazoles in the rivers Main, Hengstbach, and Hegbach (Germany)

“…Wind drift during application and one of the most important criteria of ADAF that the fluids are readily removed from the surfaces of the aircraft during its takeoff are also resulting in a diffuse input into the ambient environment. In surface runoff of an airport the concentrations of 4Me-BT and 5Me-BT were 1,670 μg/L and 2,160 μg/L, respectively (Corsi et al 2003). 4-and 5Me-BT were also detected in snow and snowmelt runoff at an airport (Schaffner and Giger 2004).…”

Constraints of propylene glycol degradation at low temperatures and saturated flow conditions

“…Thus, the rapid degradation of FO during melt water infiltration and high soil water saturation favors the development of anaerobic conditions, which might additionally decrease the degradation rate of PG . Previous studies found that ingredients of the ADF additive package exert a significant higher toxicity than PG and EG Cancilla et al 1998;Corsi et al 2003;Pillard 1995;Staples et al 2004). Adverse effects of the ADF additive package on biodegrading microorganisms may therefore additionally lower the degradation rate of the deicing chemicals in the soil.…”