Formic acid also enables rapid and long-lasting deicing agent for runways and roads ::: 

Formates, the salts of formic acid, rapidly remove thin layers of ice and effectively prevent new snow from sticking or a new layer of ice from forming. Also, the waste water polluting effect is much less than that of other deicing agents because of their good biodegradability and low oxygen demand during the breakdown process. Depending on the concentration of the deicing agent, the freezing point is reduced to as much as minus 50 degrees Celsius.

In the past, urea was the preferred deicing agent for airport runways. Because urea has a high impact on the environment, potassium acetate and potassium formate soon replaced urea. In fact, potassium formate is gradually replacing potassium acetate because it is even more efficient and eco-friendly.