Long-term fire retardant with corrosion inhibitors and methods for making and using same
A forest fire retardant composition contains water and a retardant compound that includes a halide salt, a non-halide salt, a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, or combinations thereof. The halide salt may be magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, or both. The magnesium chloride hydrate has a formula MgCl 2 (H 2 O) x , wherein x is at least one of x=1, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 12. The calcium chloride hydrate has a formula CaCl 2 (H 2 O) x , wherein x is at least one of 1, 2, 4, or 6. The composition may be in the form of a liquid concentrate or a final diluted product. The final diluted product is effective in suppressing, retarding, and controlling forest fires while exhibiting corrosion resistance and low toxicity.
1. A forest fire retardant liquid concentrate, comprising:
a magnesium salt solution comprising a magnesium salt dissolved in water, the magnesium salt being present in the solution in an amount having a weight percent of about 25% to about 35% relative to the total weight of the solution, and the solution being present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 85% to about 99% relative to the total weight of the liquid concentrate;
a corrosion inhibitor for at least one of iron, brass, or aluminum, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.5% to about 4.5% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate;
a thickening agent, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.75% to about 5.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate;
a buffering agent, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.25% to about 5.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate;
a colorant, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 1.25% to about 4.5% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate;
a dye, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.075% to about 1.2% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate; and
a surfactant, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.025% to about 1.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate.
2. The liquid concentrate of claim 1 , wherein the magnesium salt solution is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 92% to about 98% relative to the total weight of the liquid concentrate.
3. The liquid concentrate of claim 1 , further comprising a pigment, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.2% to about 1.75% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate; and
wherein:
the colorant comprises iron oxide; and
the dye comprises a fugitive dye.
4. The liquid concentrate of claim 3 , wherein:
the thickening agent comprises a polysaccharide gum;
the buffering agent comprises at least two buffering agents comprising triethanolamine and magnesium hydroxide, the triethanolamine being present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.75% to about 4.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate, and the magnesium hydroxide being present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.25% to about 3.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate;
the pigment comprises titanium dioxide; and
the surfactant comprises sodium lauryl sulfate.
5. The liquid concentrate of claim 4 , wherein the magnesium salt comprises magnesium chloride.
6. The liquid concentrate of claim 5 , wherein the magnesium chloride is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 26% to about 33% relative to the total weight of the liquid concentrate.
7. The liquid concentrate of claim 6 , wherein the corrosion inhibitor comprises one or more azoles.
8. The liquid concentrate of claim 7 , wherein:
the corrosion inhibitor is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 1.25% to about 3.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate;
the thickening agent is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 1.25% to about 4.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate;
the triethanolamine is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 1.25% to about 3.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate;
the magnesium hydroxide is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.25% to about 3.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate;
the colorant is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 1.9% to about 3.9% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate;
the dye is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.1% to about 1.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate; and
the surfactant is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.05% to about 0.75% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate.
9. A kit comprising:
a sealed container which contains the liquid concentrate of claim 1 substantially in the absence of external moisture; and
instructions for using the liquid concentrate to make a final diluted product useful to suppress, retard, or contain forest fires.
10. A forest fire retardant liquid concentrate, comprising:
a magnesium chloride solution, the magnesium chloride being present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 26% to about 33% relative to the total weight of the liquid concentrate;
a corrosion inhibitor for at least one of iron, brass, or aluminum, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.5% to about 4.5% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the liquid concentrate;
a thickening agent, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.75% to about 5.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the liquid concentrate;
a buffering agent, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.25% to about 5.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the liquid concentrate;
a colorant, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 1.25% to about 4.5% relative to the weight of the magnesium salt in the liquid concentrate;
a dye, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.075% to about 1.2% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the liquid concentrate; and
a surfactant, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.025% to about 1.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the liquid concentrate.
11. The liquid concentrate of claim 10 , wherein:
the buffering agent comprises at least two buffering agents comprising triethanolamine and magnesium hydroxide; and
the surfactant comprises sodium lauryl sulfate.
12. The liquid concentrate of claim 11 , further comprising a pigment, present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.2% to about 1.75% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the liquid concentrate; and
wherein:
the colorant comprises iron oxide; and
the dye comprises a fugitive dye.
13. The liquid concentrate of claim 12 , wherein:
the magnesium chloride solution comprises magnesium chloride dissolved in water; and
the magnesium chloride solution is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 85% to about 99% relative to the total weight of the liquid concentrate.
14. The liquid concentrate of claim 13 , wherein:
the pigment comprises titanium dioxide; and
the corrosion inhibitor comprises one or more azoles.
15. The liquid concentrate of claim 14 , wherein:
the corrosion inhibitor is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 1.25% to about 3.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the liquid concentrate;
the thickening agent is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 1.25% to about 4.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the liquid concentrate;
the triethanolamine is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 1.25% to about 3.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the liquid concentrate;
the magnesium hydroxide is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.25% to about 3.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the liquid concentrate;
the colorant is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 1.9% to about 3.9% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the liquid concentrate;
the dye is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.1% to about 1.0% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the liquid concentrate; and
the surfactant is present in the liquid concentrate in an amount having a weight percent of about 0.05% to about 0.75% relative to the weight of the magnesium chloride in the liquid concentrate.
16. A kit comprising:
a sealed container which contains the liquid concentrate of claim 10 substantially in the absence of external moisture; and
instructions for using the liquid concentrate to make a final diluted product useful to suppress, retard, or contain forest fires.