Mixed microbial fermentation of carbonaceous matter to road de-icer

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I claim: 1.
A process for production of mixed calcium-magnesium organic acid salts useful for de-icing, said process comprising: adding organic carbonaceous solids to a hydrolysis-fermentation anaerobic digester; conducting anaerobic hydrolysis-fermentation of said carbonaceous solids by a biologically active mixture of hydrolysis-fermentation anaerobes comprising primarily acid-forming bacteria while suppressing growth of methanogenic bacteria in said digester to promote the production of fermentation acid products; adding calcium-magnesium oxygen containing compound to said digester in a quantity sufficient to maintain said digester pH at about 4 to about 7 and to react said calcium-magnesium oxygen containing compound with substantially all said fermentation acid products to form a mixture of calcium-magnesium organic acid salts; and recovering said calcium-magnesium organic acid salts in solid form.
2.
The process of claim 1 wherein said calcium-magnesium oxygen containing compound is selected from the group consisting of carbonate, oxide, hydroxide and mixtures thereof.
3.
The process of claim 1 wherein said calcium-magnesium oxygen containing compound comprises calcium-magnesium carbonate.
4.
The process of claim 1 wherein said calcium-magnesium oxygen containing compound comprises calcium-magnesium oxide.
5.
The process of claim 1 wherein said organic carbonaceous solids are selected from the group consisting of biomass, crop residue, peat, wood, municipal waste, industrial waste, and mixtures thereof.
6.
The process of claim 1 wherein said biologically active mixture of hydrolysis-fermentation anaerobes is achieved by natural selection and growth of a mixed inoculum under conditions suppressing growth of methanogenic bacteria.
7.
The process of claim 1 wherein said suppressing growth of methanogenic bacteria is achieved by a low hydraulic retention time.
8.
The process of claim 1 wherein said suppressing growth of methanogenic bacteria is achieved by chemical inhibitors