Use of solid betaine product and method for its manufacture

1. A method for de-icing a surface having ice thereon, method comprising applying to said surface a sufficient amount of a solid betaine product that comprises betaine and at least one non-betaine compound affecting water or moisture movement in said solid betaine product.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said solid betaine product comprises anhydrous or monohydrate crystalline betaine or a combination thereof.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said solid betaine product is prepared from a feed liquid comprising said at least one non-betaine compound.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said solid betaine product is coated prior to use.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the mean particle size of said solid betaine product is 0.5 to 4 mm.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said solid betaine can be stored and applied under humid conditions.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said solid betaine product comprises 90 to 99.5 w-% of betaine by dry substance.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said solid betaine product comprises 0.1 to 7 w-% of at least one of said non-betaine compounds affecting water or moisture movement in said solid betaine product.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein said solid betaine product is used in combination with an aqueous de-icing solution.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein said aqueous de-icing solution comprises 35 to 65 w-% of water.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein said aqueous de-icing solution comprises betaine.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said aqueous de-icing solution comprises 45 to 55 w-% of betaine.

13. The method according to claim 9 wherein said solid betaine product is applied at the same time as said solution.

14. The method according claim 9 wherein said solid betaine product is applied before said solution.

15. The method according to claim 9 wherein said solution is applied before said solid betaine product.

16. The method according to claim 1 wherein said solid betaine product is used in combination with another ice-melting agent selected from the group consisting of acetates, formates, urea, propanediol and mixtures thereof.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein said another ice-melting product is used in solid form or in the form of a solution.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein said solid betaine product is a non- or soft-lumping product.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein said solid betaine product is in the form of crystals or particulates.

20. The method of claim 5 , wherein the mean particle size of said solid betaine product is 0.8 to 2.5 mm.

21. The method of claim 5 , wherein the mean particle size of said solid betaine product is 1 to 1.5 mm.

22. The method of claim 8 , wherein said solid betaine product comprises 0.1 to 5 w-% of said at least one non-betaine compound.

23. The method of claim 8 , wherein said solid betaine product comprises 0.1 to 2 w-% of said at least one non-betaine compound.

24. The method of claim 8 , wherein said solid betaine product comprises 0.1 to 1 w-% of said at least one non-betaine compound.

25. The method of claim 10 , wherein said aqueous de-icing solution comprises 45 to 65 w-% of water.

26. The method of claim 12 , wherein said aqueous de-icing solution comprises about 50 w-% of betaine.

27. The method of claim 16 , wherein said another ice-melting product is administered before, after, or at the same time as said solid betaine product.

28. A process for the manufacture of a solid betaine product that comprises betaine and at least one non-betaine compound affecting water or moisture movement in said solid betaine product, the method comprising:

a. preparing a suspension comprising betaine crystals and said at least one non-betaine compound from a feed liquid comprising same, and

b. separating said betaine crystals and said at least one non-betaine compound from said feed liquid and washing said betaine crystals and said at least one non-betaine compound under wash conditions that provide 0.5 to 10 w-% of said at least one non-betaine compound in said solid betaine product.

29. The process according to claim 28 wherein said solid betaine product comprises 0.1 to 7 w-% of said at least one non-betaine compound affecting water or moisture movement in said solid betaine product.

30. The process according to claim 28 wherein said solid betaine product comprises anhydrous or monohydrate crystalline betaine or a mixture thereof.

31. The process according to claim 28 wherein said at least one non-betaine compound is naturally found in said feed liquid.

32. The process according to claim 28 further comprising the step of granulating the solid betaine product.

33. The process according to claim 28 further comprising the step of coating said solid betaine product.

34. The process according to claim 33 wherein said solid betaine product is coated with a polymer.

35. The process according to claim 34 wherein said polymer is polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) or other water-soluble polymers.

36. The process according to claim 28 wherein the mean particle size of said solid betaine product is 0.5 to 4 mm.

37. The process according to claim 29 wherein said solid betaine product comprises 0.1 to 5 w-% of said at least one non-betaine compound affecting water or moisture movement in said solid betaine product.

38. The process according to claim 29 wherein said solid betaine product comprises 0.1 to 2 w-% of said at least one non-betaine compound affecting water or moisture movement in said solid betaine product.

39. The process according to claim 29 wherein said solid betaine product comprises 0.1 to 1 w-% of said at least one non-betaine compound affecting water or moisture movement in said solid betaine product.

40. The process according to claim 28 wherein said solid betaine product is non- or soft-lumping.

41. The process according to claim 28 wherein said feed liquid is molasses or vinasse.