The utilization of salt particles from seaweed processing by-products for low-sodium salt production

Abstract

Utilizing mechanical rotary and sieve separators to collect salt particles from the surface of dried Eucheuma cottonii represents an innovative methodological approach. In this study, a mechanical rotary separator was employed to separate impurities like salt particles, mud, stones, and seaweed chunks from the surface of the dried Eucheuma cottonii. Following that, a multi-layer vibro sieve separator was employed to separate the salt particles from impurities. This study aimed to investigate the influence of the separation duration in both equipment for separating impurities on the surface of the dried Eucheuma cottonii, and collecting salt particles from the impurities. Mass balance is utilized to calculate, quantify, and analyze the distribution of impurities mass throughout the entire process line. Impurities produced during the process were characterized using a binocular stereo microscope (Olympus SZ30). The sodium content in the salt particle produced was analyzed using the titration method. The study showed that using a mechanical rotary separator for about 3 minutes on 500 grams of dried Eucheuma cottonii generated 7.6 grams of impurities. Using the multi-layer vibro sieve separator, only 3.8 grams of the initial 7.6 grams of impurities were identified as uncontaminated salt particles. As a result, these salt particles contain a minimum of 60% sodium chloride, presenting a viable alternative to table salt as a low-sodium source. This research demonstrates a significant contribution through its effective methodology for extracting salt particles from dried Eucheuma cottonii, indicating its potential as a viable source of low-sodium salt.