The History Of Rock Salt For Industrial Use

NaCl, or salt, has a variety of chemical applications. In the textile and clothes industry, rock salt is popularly used to keep products dry, once packaged. Small packets of salt are common, although this is not a safe product for consumption. Desiccants contain not only halite (salt in crystal form), but also some chemicals which are dangerous when consumed, but increase the desiccating effects of this natural resource on it’s own. These packages are familiar to consumers, but their warning labels are intended to prevent the consumption of chemicals other than salt.

Most of the world’s salt is not used for its desiccating effects, but since textile and product retailers require that merchandise be kept dry, rock salt is a completely viable and cost-effective means of creating value for the end-user. NaCl may also be packaged in combination with other desiccants which may be more efficient at reducing exposure of sensitive products to water. Far from a mystery, these combinations are designed not only to draw water away from the product, but to absorb moisture before a sensitive fabric or item of electronic equipment is exposed at all.

Textile Applications, Dyes And Initial Washing

For the textile industry, desiccating packages is not the only potential application for this natural resource. Additionally, clothes are dyed using rock salt, allowing the dye to penetrate textiles and fabrics more effectively. Dye is not saturated with salt, but enough salt is included in the dye mix to allow dyes deep penetration over a period of time. This process not only produces deep and vibrant color, but allows fabrics to be exposed to salt and saturated water products before initial use by the customer. Dyeing with salt is one of the most important steps of the textile laundering process, and textile use accounts for nearly 10% of global rock salt usage. Clearly, industrial salt is not limited to deicing and weather applications.

How Salt Is Used For Making Detergent And Soap

Additional uses in the chemical industry include the separation of soap ingredients from water. The soap industry accounts for a large percentage of global use of this widely available resource, and requires a constant flow of rock salt from sources all over the world, but not from large bodies of water (these do not produce NaCl in a “rock” form). Many chemicals would not be available on store shelves, if not for the inexpensive acquisition of rock salt from international mines and sellers. Salt at large could be seen as one of the most important commodities sold globally, as its historic use for all of these applications has improved the quality of life for countless consumers, and the health of countless industries.

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