Introduction to Solar Evaporation Ponds
The solar evaporation ponds method is a traditional, low-cost technique for extracting salt from seawater or brine sources. It relies on the natural power of the sun and wind to evaporate water, leaving behind concentrated salt crystals. This process has been used for thousands of years, dating back to ancient civilizations in regions like the Mediterranean and Asia.
Key Concept: Seawater, which contains about 3.5% dissolved salts (primarily sodium chloride), is directed into shallow ponds where evaporation concentrates the brine until salt precipitates out.
This method builds on the prerequisite knowledge of evaporative sources like seawater, where solar energy drives the separation of water from dissolved minerals.
Example: In coastal areas with abundant sunlight, such as the Gujarat region in India, shallow ponds cover vast areas to maximize surface exposure to the sun.