Most of us use salt every single day, and some of us don’t even know that we’re using it. It’s a mineral that is abundant and has a variety of uses across a wide array of different industries. From keeping our roads safe to drive on in the winter, to preserving food, to treating water, the right type of bulk salt can have an enormous impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of a number of business operations.
However, not all types of bulk salt are the same. Depending on what you need the mineral for can make a huge difference on what type of salt to use. For example, some salts are better used removing the ice from your driveway than they are preserving food. It’s important to understand some of these distinctions between these various types of salt when searching for bulk salt distributors near me. By choosing the right type of salt, and storing and handling it properly, you can help it maintain its quality for a long time.
What Are the Different Types of Bulk Salt?
While there are several different types of salt, each with their own unique properties and applications, there are really only a few that are commonly used for commercial purposes. Those types are rock salt, solar salt, evaporated salt, and sea salt. Some of these might seem very similar to each other when you look at them, but their applications can differ greatly – simply because of their applications and the science behind how they’re created. The chemistry behind the salt will also determine its purity and its performance for your specific needs.
Rock salt is the most common type of bulk salt, and is widely used for de-icing roads and sidewalks. It’s cost effective and widely available. Solar salt is made through a process of evaporating sea water, while evaporated salt is made by mining salt deposits and then using water to dissolve the salt. Sea salt is also harvested through evaporation, but is pulled directly from evaporated sea water. Brine isn’t really salt, but rather a solution that has high concentration of salt in water. All of these can be used for various industrial resources, but some is better for particular applications than others. Here’s a deeper look at the different salts and many of their commercial uses.
Rock Salt
This is a very common form of salt that is mined directly from salt deposits underground. This type of salt usually has more impurities – like clay or other minerals – which can impact the way it looks and how it performs. Rock salt is widely used for de-icing roads, sidewalks, and other larger areas because it’s inexpensive and available in large quantities. Even though de-icing is its most popular application, rock salt can also be very effective in other applications. It has also been used to provide mineral supplements to agriculture, and as a water softener.
The main advantages to rock salt are its inexpensive price tag, availability, and ease of use. It’s typically less expensive compared to other types of salt because of the minimal amount of processing that’s required, and it’s abundant because there are large deposits of it found in many different parts of the world. This constant supply makes it a very reliable option for businesses. There is also a lot of equipment available to make it easy to spread, making it very easy for road maintenance crews and property managers to use when de-icing their properties.
Solar Salt
This type of salt is produced through processes of controlled evaporation. Large, shallow ponds full of seawater or brine are evaporated naturally through the use of sunlight and wind. Once evaporated, this process leaves behind salt crystals that are relatively pure. Because of the purity, solar salt is beneficial for use with water softening systems and certain food processing applications. It’s also one of the most environmentally friendly that some of the other options, because it relies on natural processes for its creation. Not only is the process natural, but it also requires less energy and resources to produce when compared to mining operations like those needed for rock salt.
Solar salt is also reasonably priced for bulk salt, making it one of the most popular choices for water softening. This is due not only to the cost, but it’s also an efficient option for preventing buildup in pipes and appliances. The purity of the salt extends their lifespan and can reduce maintenance costs. It can be used in a number of applications beyond water softening. The purity makes it a great option for use in the food processing industry, as well as with some other industrial processes. The flexibility and purity of solar salt make it a great option across industries.
Evaporated Salt
Much like rock salt, evaporated salt is mined from salt deposits. However, after it is mined, water is used to dissolve the salt. The combination of water and salt creates the solution called brine. Once that is evaporated a second time, the crystals left behind are the pure salt known as evaporated salt. Because of its very high level of purity, it is very common to find evaporated salt used with food applications and pharmaceuticals. The quality is also very consistent with evaporated salt because of its controlled moisture content from the process used to create it. This is important for applications where the salt needs to be measured or mixed with other ingredients.
The consistent grain size and composition is what makes it great for working with food. Evaporated salt is commonly used for seasoning, curing, and preserving food products because of this reliable consistency. That’s also the reason it’s popular in the pharmaceutical industry for creating things like saline solutions, tablets, and other medical products that require accuracy. It’s also used as a raw material in the production of things like chlorine. This consistency also makes it easier to store and handle when compared to other types of salt, as it’s less likely to clump or cake.
Sea Salt
Also created through evaporation, sea salt is most similar to solar salt only with less industrial processing. This kind of salt is harvested directly from sea water through evaporation, which allows it to retain some of the trace minerals and elements from the seawater. That can influence the salt’s flavor and nutritional content, but sea salt is predominantly used in culinary applications and for use with specialty food products. It has a distinct flavor that is typically considered more complex and nuanced when compared to regular table salt.
Sea salt’s popularity in the culinary world comes from not only its distinctive flavor, but also because it’s very rich in trace minerals that are beneficial to your health. Minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium (to name a few) can contribute to the overall nutritional value of sea salt – making it a healthier alternative. Sea salt also has a very distinct appearance, as its crystals usually vary in size and can sometimes come in slightly colored hues. It also undergoes minimal processing to help retain its flavor, making it a natural option for culinary professionals.
Factors to Consider When Buying Bulk Salt
Selecting the right type of bulk salt for your business needs depends on a number of factors. Most important is the type of application you need it for, but almost all business owners need to consider cost, availability, and how it impacts our environment. Different types of salt are suitable for different applications, and understanding your specific needs will help you choose the right type of salt. While rock salt is the most ideal for de-icing, it will not be the best option if you’re using it to season or preserve food. For culinary needs, it is best to look at salt with higher levels of purity, like evaporated salt, for example.
The purity also impacts performance. Impurities in salt are more of a concern for applications that require high accuracy – like those in the pharmaceutical world. The cost and availability can go hand in hand, depending on your location and the season. Rock salt is widely available year round, while solar and sea salts are more dependent on the weather conditions. That could lead to less availability in particular areas. The environmental impact may also be an important consideration. Solar and sea salt use natural processes, while others might be mined. It’s also important to not the environmental consequences and proper use of salts when de-icing.
It’s also important to note that proper storage and handling of bulk salt is essential for it to maintain its quality and effectiveness. Keeping the salt dry and monitoring the temperature of the storage space can go a long way in maintaining the salt’s freshness and longevity. For more information on what bulk salt might be the best for your commercial applications, reach out to the experts at Clarity Salt today.