New de-icing liquid safe, non-corrosive Ice-Ban angers some students, faculty By Caitlin Nish Daily Staff Reporter It's known by students and teachers as the foul-smelling, brown liquid on classroom and residence hall floors. But Ice-Ban, a by-product of corn milled to produce alcohol, is being used by the University as an ecologically friendly substitute for salt to free students from the hassle of slipping and sliding en route to class. Ice-Ban "is gross to see and you don't want to put your bag on it. All the classes are covered with brown stuff," LSA first-year student Elizabeth Herr said. "Maybe (the University) could place more mats at the doors to the building. They have some, but they don't work very well," Herr added. University Custodian Nancy Antosiek said Ice-Ban has even created extra cleaning duties. "I have had a hard time keeping up," Antosiek said. "One girl fell and hurt herself because it was so slippery. We put up caution signs because everyone has been bringing it in," she said. Although it may be an eye-sore and cause extra work for the University's custodians, Ice-Ban representatives contend the de-icer is not harmful to metal equipment, fabric or people. "Ice-Ban is non-corrosive and bio-degradable so it will not attack metal," said Mark Weber, a sales representative for Ice-Ban America Inc. "It is currently used as cattle feed in its original state. With the absence of chloride, it is less aggressive for carpets." Weber also said that the components of Ice-Ban are non-harmful and a person could technically consume it. "I've eaten it and it doesn't taste that good, but you can eat it," he said. University's Supervisor of Forestry and Horticulture Marvin Pettway said although the University still uses sodium chloride, commonly known as rock salt, on campus streets, Ice-Ban now covers all sidewalks and driveways. "There has been a great deal of structural damage because of sodium chloride and we are (using Ice-Ban) to lessen the damage to the infrastructure," Pettway said. He also said some of the concrete posts in the plaza between the Chemistry Building and the C.C. Little Building have been rotted through because of the use of sodium chloride. Sodium chloride is still being used on city streets, but Ice-Ban is used in conjunction to increase the salt's effectiveness. "Ice-Ban makes salt work to a lower temperature. It can be used by itself as an anti-icer before the storm comes. It will not only melt the snow and ice but it will also prevent it from bonding to the payment," Weber said. Pettway said that although Ice-Ban has been successful, the University is looking for an alternative which is friendlier to students' carpeting and clothing. "It's water-soluble so it's not like (staining) should be a permanent problem. We are working to use another (de-icer) which would be in a liquid form and clear and odor-free. We do not have that material in our stock yet," Pettway said. Between 15 and 20 University tractors and trucks disperse Ice-Ban and plow the snow from Central Campus, Pettway said. He said the University uses it before expected snowfall. When snow becomes too much to pile on Central Campus, the snow must be hauled to alternate locations. "Last January snow had to be hauled out on Fuller Road across from Mitchell Field. Another location is the Elbel Field parking lot. They are both big and open," Pettway said. SAM HOLLENSHEAD/Daily The salt pictured here is being replaced by Ice-Ban, an environmentally safe substance that has been a bother to students, faculty and staff across campus. Originally on page 1A in the 1-26-2000 issue of the Daily.