Spectroscopic and chemiometrics supported studies on discrimination, phase transition and concentration identifications of 1,2-propylene glycol solutions, and of a mixture of potassium acetate with 1,3-propanediol solutions as anti-icing fluids

Aircrafts and runways de-icing operations with anti-icing fluids are still the most commonly used methods, in spite of their environmental impacts and associated costs. Once applied, these fluids are diluted because of adverse weather water inputs, conducting to a freezing point getting closer to 0 °C. The characterization of their freezing points is therefore crucial. Four distinct anti-icing fluids, at concentrations ranging from their pure commercial form to an highly diluted rate were investigated by means of Raman spectroscopy and chemiometrics. The approach allowed the discrimination of the aircrafts anti-icing fluids between each other though containing the same active chemical compound, the rapid evolution towards 0 °C of their freezing temperatures with the water dilution, and of the concentrations in active compounds of each fluid, along with their forecast.