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Learn about the sea salts of Infosa

Sea salts have a large number of applications in our daily lives, at individual and business level.

This is why Infosa develops different types of salts to meet our customers' needs.

One of the main features of the salt manufacturing system is that salt is obtained by a natural process consisting on evaporation caused by sun rays. When the right time comes, this salt is collected using a given mechanical system, preventing to alter its nature and chemical composition.

Below we explain the three types of sea salts that Infosa works with.

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Water treatment with sea salt (decalcification)

When treating water, one of the most frequent used procedures is descaling; in other words, to remove the salt. This can help us to do the following: - To be able to improve the taste of water and make it less harmful to the body (minimizing the possibility of gallstones). - To have soft water that will improve the efficiency of appliances and avoid problems of internal deterioration. - To save on soaps and detergents. - Lime free water helps us keep our hair and skin in perfect condition. - But, the most common use given to this treatment is performed in the pools.

Water treatment with sea salt as decalcification for pools

· How is this process done?

The first thing done is to dissolve the salt in water; at that time it is when its elements are separated: on the one hand, the chlorine (which is identified with the chemical symbol Cl) is detached from the salt. When oxygen combines with hydrogen, and the chloride with the electrodes, Chlorine material will be formed.

This element aims to disinfect the pool water itself.

· What are the results obtained after descaling?

- It will help us get a much healthier water as it is antiseptic water.

- One of its great advantages is that with this procedure are helping to protect the environment. The reason for this is that we can use the same water for much longer without having to be changing it continuously.

It's a very secure system because it has the peculiarity that, unlike other treatments, there are no manipulations using corrosive chemicals.

-On the other hand, we must also consider that it is a very simple process to carry out. If the user treating the pool does not have much knowledge about the process, the user will not take long to get this knowledge and to be able to carry out with the least possible effort.

Different types of salts for pools

Wet Salts: These salts have not undergone a process of artificial drying, so they have the particularity of having a moisture content of up to 4%.

Dry Salts: In this case they have been through a centrifuge, sieving and drying process. Thus a specific degree of grading is achieved. In this case, the moisture content is a maximum of 0.3% and are classified depending on the grain shape.

Compact Vacuum Salts: This type of salt is formed through the fine dry vacuum salt that has undergone a process of mechanical compaction. Depending of the used mold, different shapes will be obtained.

Now you know what the descaling method is and the salts to carry it out.

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Packaging of sea salt

Sea salt is collected using a thorough standard procedure that helps to obtain a product that can have many different uses. However, to make possible that it reaches us in the right way, it is important to get the proper support in which it will be stored.

Below we review the main forms of sea salt packaging, as found in our usual distributors.

Discover the main forms to package sea salt

Big Bag format

With this format we refer to a kind of giant bag specially designed to prevent that salt flakes precipitate. This format is designed to deliver salt to customers that will use it in industrial proportions because it can store between 1000-1200kg of this product.

Usually, in order to distribute this type of storage from the supplier, it is usually loaded directly on the pallet (but this is not required).

12.5 kg bucket

The bucket format is also usually quite common when storing sea salt. Its major advantage is that it is very difficult to break, so the probability of having any loss is quite small. In addition, the handle will help us to transport it easily.

Usually, companies sell this format offering several buckets (eg, 48). Usually, they are also loaded on pallets because it is easier to carry; however, due to its cylindrical shape it is not always easy to take advantage of the maximum possible space.

In bulk

A third option is to distribute the bulk salt; in this case, the customer is responsible for putting the storage system to transport it in the right way. Usually, a dump truck tank transports it.

It is recommended when large amounts of salt are needed and we want to transport it in a much more practical and faster way. Being able to select exactly the amount of salt we want, ensures that we will not have to buy more than what is needed.

Sack format

And we end up with one of the most common formats to store sea salt: the sack.

Within this category, we can find different types of sacks which are classified by their weight; general measures are often the 5kg, 12,5kg or the largest up to 25 kg.

The problem is that the sacks are usually more difficult to carry and the smallest cut in some areas of the structure could make that some of the product is lost. In contrast, the biggest advantage is that we can choose much smaller amounts of sea salt, which will facilitate its handling.

These are the most common ways to transport sea salt.

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Production of sea salt

Sodium chloride (better known as salt) abounds mostly in the ocean water and can also be found in certain solid masses on earth or even in certain solutions in springs or ponds.

It is a compound that, at chemical level, consists of 40% sodium and 40% chloride, serving for many uses in our current society: from conservation, to spice up our dishes, to maintain certain devices...

Learn more about the most common salt production systems

Obtaining salt by solar evaporation

Generally, it is the most used method. The idea is to get fresh water (or brine found) in order to evaporate; for this purpose, the combination of wind and solar energy is used. When the brine found reaches a specific level, the crystallization of sodium chloride will take place.

One of the peculiarities of this method is that here we find some variations like salt flats in which fractional crystallization can be obtained, artisanal salt flats and crystallization brines that have not been purified.

Obtaining vacuum evaporated salt

To obtain salt in this way, an exclusive plant has been designed to perform this type of procedure. This plant is constructed based on heat exchangers and heat evaporators.

It is considered a very effective procedure because salt that is obtained is very white, crystallized and with a purity exceeding 99.5%; in contrast, it is also a more expensive procedure and, therefore, increases the price of the final product in relation to the market.

Obtaining salt in endorheic basins

In many countries we can find these basins that are just certain saline areas located in specific areas; however, the problem is that they have a very low production volume and the quality is not always high enough to be usable. Usually, the salt that is removed is typically used for fodder salts, tannery or local markets.

To run this type of method, an the opening of wells is done to be able to use as much as possible the underground brines; the purpose is to find outcrops or deposits in which salt predominates. Once they are found, pumping machines are used to make that the brine ascends to evaporators vessels; salts will be deposited there to get gradually the characteristic that crystallization.

Although there are other methods to obtain salt, these are commonly often used at present in the industry for de production of sea salt. The purpose is to get the product of the highest quality possible, and in abundance, getting to minimize the investment.

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Gourmet sea salt

Gourmet sea salt is a highly valued product on the market that is usually used in a great variety of food. Even it is part of many dishes from renowned chefs who use it to give an extraordinary taste.

Characteristics of gourmet salt

Composition

If we check out its composition, we can find a high amount of nutrients that are considered fully in line with our body and also help us improve our health. It has a huge concentration of minerals and trace elements. This is one of the main differences in compare to what traditional salt can offer you.

Usage

It is used in some more especial sectors in haute cuisine, meticulous hostelry or for sale in a large number of specialty shops.

Actually, we are talking about a product that is difficult to find, meaning that we are not going to be able to get in the usual shops; but if we look for it, we will find it quickly. However, the main issue is that consumers do not know it exists and therefore, it goes unnoticed.

Different types of gourmet salt

Usually, gourmet salt can be classified into two main groups: Flower salt and salt flakes.

Flower salt

Natural Flower salt correspond to the salt that crystallizes on the surface of the water in our traditional salt flats. Moreover, it is harvested daily, so it is considered to be a completely artisan method and, at the same time, it is fully environmentally friendly.

Because no treatment is performed, it preserves all its characteristics to get the best taste and the best benefits for our health.

Salt flakes

The second broad category is salt flakes, which come directly from pure water that comes from the Mediterranean Sea.

In this case, there is a specific treatment: sea water has to be purified with a very unique method. Moreover, its harvest is not such a simple process as the previous one. A very delicate pyramid is obtained, which must be treated carefully: when it reaches the consumer's hands, he/she will realize that it is so fragile that it can be used directly in any food.

Salt flakes have a great added benefit, this is that less product is used to get the maximum flavour. We know already that salt is involved in raising blood pressure; for this reason, it is recommended to minimize it.

As in this process less salt is used, it is more health friendly.

It helps to get a great flavour and also to give that decorative touch that our dish was crying out for.

Now you know the different types of gourmet salt that are available in the market and their applications.

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Usage of salt in agriculture and livestock

Many farmers use different methods where salt is used with very interesting advantages for their activity. The most well-known technique is known as "Silage". Basically, it is a kind of fermentation that occurs in high-moisture fodder and in certain specific crops (i.e. in the wheat, grasses, corn farming)... What is the result? It can be stored in a more effective way.

In what does silage consists of?

When the specialist performs this type of technique, a "spontaneous lactic fermentation" takes place, but under conditions in which oxygen is not required (known as “anaerobic fermentation”). When this happens, acids are released, the medium pH changes thereby causing a reduction of the same and this, internally, also produces a number of significant changes.

And what is exactly the impact of this in agriculture / livestock? Its main advantage is to act as a preservative agent. It levels off the acids and makes possible that the medium becomes more acid and faster. It is an appropriate way to preserve the characteristics of the product; for example, those related to the appearance, smell, nutritional properties, and other aspects to be considered.

If we compare its characteristics with classic fodder, we realize that there is a clear difference in quality. But not only that, but it can also reduce costs (for both the farmer/rancher, as for the end customer), as there is a lower possibility for product deterioration (no losses means also no economic losses) and it is also a very economical technique, so there are only advantages.

Nowadays it is considered an almost indispensable technique for these two sectors. This is so that there are many companies responsible for selling special salts to apply them in this way; unlike what you might believe, we are not talking about the regular salt that we can find at the supermarket. Due to its special characteristics to be able to perform its conservation task, the company responsible for its marketing will have to analyze even the smallest detail regarding the production process to remove unsuitable material; for example, metals, any trace type or other contaminant elements. In this way, you can determine that the salt itself will only preserve and will not intoxicate the product that you are trying to protect.

Salt ensures that the product is in perfect condition, but also it will also be special, exclusive and that we will not have overpaid for it.

A very special technique that helps us know the farmer and the rancher´s work of a little better.

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Uses for salt

Certainly, if someone asks you about the uses for sea salt, the only thing that comes to your mind is to give a special flavor to food and maybe its industrial use to melt the ice in case there is heavy snow.

However, there are many uses for salt that you should know. Here we have prepared a short list of the most important uses.

Discover the different uses for salt

A good remedy for bee stings

It is true that it doesn’t help with the healing or the cicatrization, but certainly it will help you to relieve pain. You just only need to add some water to the affected area at the time when the sting happens. Next, you need to cover it with salt. In this way, you will fight the pain.

Stain and splatters removal

How many times have you been cooking, some liquid has spilled and it has been hard to clean? Or even worse, maybe we have realized too late and it has been hardened so much that it has been very difficult to remove. Here salt also plays a key role: we can add a bit of salt at the time that the liquid or substance falls in order to remove the smoke and the smell. Once it is cold, it can be easily removed.

To kill weeds

In the case we have a land and we do not want weeds to grow in a certain area, we just have to add some table/sea salt and add some hot water. In this way, it will reach the root itself to prevent its growth.

Removing scale from coffee maker

The scale of the coffee maker is one of the main problems that can affect its proper functioning; if we add one-quarter cup of fine salt and 12 ice cubes and we put them all together inside the coffee maker, we will completely remove the scale.

Cleaning

And if all this was not enough, you should know that it also helps us to remove coffee stains, to clean ornaments or different copper utensils, wooden boards... In short, a product with many more uses than you thought.

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Sea salt can have many applications. Do you know that salt is also used to preservate forage? Discover more about this visiting our website.

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One of the best methods to get rid of the ice is to use salt. discover what kind of sea salt is the most suitable to melt ice, on our website

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Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

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We are exporters of salt internationally. This is the world map where you can see oir sales out of Spain. Learn more about our salt extraction company in our website.