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cmille3

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    I don't bathe, but...

    in Bath, Body & Cosmetics

    Posted

    Here you go from www.saltinstitute.org

    Solar Salt Production

    Solar salt is produced by the action of sun and wind on seawater ( 1 2 ) or natural brine in lakes; both temperature and salinity are important. The water evaporates in successive ponds until the brine is fully concentrated and salt crystallizes on the floor of the crystallizing ponds. Solar salt plants must be located in areas of low rainfall and high evaporation rates, and where suitable low-cost is available. In the Mediterranean, for example, saltworks succeed because evaporation exceeds rainfall by a factor of 3:1; that advantage is even greater in Australia where it can reach 15:1.

    Seawater contains about 3.5% (by weight) dissolved minerals. Sodium chloride is 77% of that amount, or about 2.7% of seawater. The other 0.8% consists chiefly of calcium, magnesium and sulfate ions. As seawater evaporates, its volume decreases and the concentration of sodium chloride in the resulting brine increases. Thus, saltworks generally extract as sodium chloride a bit over 2% of the weight of the influent seawater. This means that solar saltworks are often quite extensive in area. Often, the concentrating ponds will have distinct coloration, a pink or red, depending on the salt concentration and what species of plants and animals find it habitable. Salt crystals begin to form when the brine concentration reaches 25.8 % sodium chloride (NaCl). As evaporation proceeds, a layer of salt builds up on the earthen crystallizer floors to a thickness of 10 to 25 cm (4-10 in). Sometimes, a layer of salt remains in the crystallizers as "salt floors" to provide support for "harvesting" equipment and to lessen the chance of clay or soil contamination of the salt. A modern, properly operated solar salt plant can produce salt that is more than 99.7 % NaCl (dry basis). In the Dead Sea, salt producers have to contend with "salt mushrooms."

    After the salt "crop" reaches the appropriate thickness, the salt is harvested (usually once a year) with mobile equipment, washed, and placed on stockpile to drain. The principal impurities in solar salt are small amounts of calcium and magnesium sulfate, and magnesium chloride. Clean brine, made by dissolving fine salt, is used to wash the salt to remove small amounts of impurities such as these. Seawater can also be used, but salt losses increase due to dissolution. Depending on the intended use, solar salt may be crushed, screened and dried in kiln or fluidized-bed dryers. Because of its high purity and large crystal size, solar salt is widely used to regenerate water softeners.

    I am a paranoid soaper

    in General Soap Making

    Posted

    I had an experience with staticky lye early on that has left me forever cautious. I also worry about one of the kids or the cat finding a bead of lye.

    Here's my little trick: I make a newspaper "nest" under my baggie covered scale. I also keep dryer sheets next to my jug of vinegar. Cleanup is also much easier - I roll everything up in another newspaper and double bag it in plastic shopping bags before putting it into a garbage bag and bringing it outside.

    76 degree in lotions & creams

    in Bath, Body & Cosmetics

    Posted

    I have a lotion that's 12% monoi and I sub 76 co with it all the time if I don't want the monoi scent.

    Jen, I absolutely cannot think of monoi without thinking of you! You are the one that hooked me on it! I have the last little bit of your Tahitian Moondrops lotion sitting on my desk. I don't want to use it up!!

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