Prior to 2004, the Denver International Airport (DEN) was recovering spent aircraft deicing fluid (ADF) with only 8% or higher glycol concentration, resulting in a significant expense. The City and airport incurred hefty discharge fees, and coped with discharge restrictions and storage constraints in order to manage all the remaining collected fluid.
Inland’s Glycol Concentrator with Mechanical Vapor Recompression (MVR) technology was introduced at DEN to recycle spent ADF with a glycol concentration of 1% and higher. Using this innovative system, Inland was able to dramatically increase recovery volumes and assume all costs to recycle the spent ADF.
Each year at DEN, more than 2 million gallons of ADF is applied with 70% of that volume collected and processed and used in the manufacture of Type I ADF. During the 2009-2010 deicing season alone, Inland’s recycling process saved $2 million; $1 million of which was from disposal fees.