Mineral composition, crystallinity and dielectric evaluation of Bamboo Salt, Himalaya Salt, and Ba’kelalan salt content
Cheng Ee Meng,
Che Wan Sharifah Robiah Mohamad,
Nashrul Fazli Mohd Nasir,
Khor Shing Fhan,
Ong Hong Liang,
Tan Xiao Jian,
Lee Kim Yee,
You Kok Yeow,
Emma Ziezie Mohd Tarmizi,
Mohd Riza Mohd Roslan,
Siti Aishah Baharuddin
Affiliations
Cheng Ee Meng
Faculty of Electronic Engineering & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Arau, 02600, Malaysia; Advanced Communication Engineering, Centre of Excellence (CoE), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Kangar, 01000, Malaysia; Sports Engineering Research Centre (SERC), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Arau, 02600, Malaysia; Corresponding author. Faculty of Electronic Engineering & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Arau, 02600, Malaysia.
Che Wan Sharifah Robiah Mohamad
Faculty of Electronic Engineering & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Arau, 02600, Malaysia
Nashrul Fazli Mohd Nasir
Faculty of Electronic Engineering & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Arau, 02600, Malaysia; Sports Engineering Research Centre (SERC), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Arau, 02600, Malaysia
Khor Shing Fhan
Faculty of Electrical Engineering & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Arau, 02600, Malaysia
Ong Hong Liang
Faculty of Electronic Engineering & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Arau, 02600, Malaysia
Tan Xiao Jian
Sports Engineering Research Centre (SERC), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), Arau, 02600, Malaysia; Centre for Multimodal Signal Processing, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT), Jalan Genting Kelang, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, 53300, Malaysia; Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT), Jalan Genting Kelang, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, 53300, Malaysia
Lee Kim Yee
Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering & Science, Sungai Long Campus, Tunku Abdul Rahman University, Jalan Sungai Long, Kajang, Cheras, Sungai Long City, 43000, Malaysia
You Kok Yeow
Department of Communication Engineering, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, UTM Johor, Malaysia
Emma Ziezie Mohd Tarmizi
Centre of Foundation Studies for Agricultural Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Malaysia
Mohd Riza Mohd Roslan
Department of Engineering and Built Environment, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Penang Branch, Pulau Pinang, 11200, Malaysia
Siti Aishah Baharuddin
Department of Engineering and Built Environment, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Penang Branch, Pulau Pinang, 11200, Malaysia
The mineral composition, crystallinity, and dielectric properties of salts can provide valuable insights into the quality and suitability of different types of salt for various applications. In this study, comprehensive analysis of the X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and dielectric analysis of the Ba'kelalan salt, Himalaya salt and Bamboo salt have been investigated. The mineral composition of these salts, encompassing vital elements such as iodine and other trace minerals, significantly influences the salt's nutritional profile and overall excellence. Nonetheless, gauging the dispersion and density of these minerals poses difficulties due to conventional techniques that can be arduous, damaging, and expensive. Sample preparation is carried out before conducting X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and dielectric analysis. XRD measurements are performed using the Bruker D2 Phaser to identify crystalline material phases. XRD operates on the principle of constructive X-ray interference within crystalline samples. For elemental analysis across a broad spectrum of materials, XRF is employed. Elemental peaks are scanned, starting from the lowest to the highest angle of incidence. The X-ray intensity at characteristic peaks is compared to the standard series. Dielectric spectroscopy analysis examines the dielectric behaviour of Ba'kelalan salt, Himalaya salt, and Bamboo salt. The setup involves a vector network analyser (VNA) paired with an open-ended coaxial probe, utilizing the microwave method. This approach ensures rapid, efficient, and non-destructive measurements of dielectric constants (ε′) and loss factors (ε”). The dielectric permittivity spectra are acquired within the frequency range of 4 GHz–20 GHz. ε′ of these salts increase with frequency. Meanwhile, ε” seem varies insignificantly over frequency. Mineral contents and crystallinity are the crucial factors lead to these responses. Based on the study, the quality and suitability of the selected salts for specific applications can be determined by considering their mineral composition, crystallinity, and dielectric properties in the context of the intended use. This gives an insight for some applications that may benefit from certain minerals or crystalline structures, others may require specific dielectric properties for effective use. Therefore, understanding these properties allows for decision-making in choosing the right type of salt for a given purpose, whether it's for foods, medical, industrial, healthcare, and technological applications.
