An apparatus for applying a liquid coating to a deicer composition,
methods of applying a liquid coating to a deicer composition, and solid
deicer compositions that have been coated using the apparatus or method
of the invention are disclosed. The apparatus includes a screw conveyor
that has a housing, at least one screw with a plurality of flights, an
inlet for uncoated deicer, an inlet for a liquid coating composition, and
an outlet for deicer coated with the liquid coating composition. The
screws contain protrusions or tabs that extend from the surrounding
surface of the screw. These protrusions or tabs aid in the mixing of the
solid deicer and the liquid coating composition in order to provide a
well-mixed deicer that resists caking while avoiding losing the coating
composition to leaching.