Slashdot Mirror
Salt From Plants
Makarand writes "Researchers in India have been able to
extract salt from a plant source for the first time.
The plant salt comes from a salt-loving leafless shrub, salicornia brachaita,
that grows under high-salt conditions accumulating salt in its tissues.
This plant's cultivation was being studied as a possible solution to
reclaiming salty soil along coastal areas. While regular sea salt is predominantly NaCl, this plant salt has
salts of potassium, calcium, magnesium and also nutrients like iron and hence could be marketed as a health salt."
It's not so much new ways to get salt. (Not withstanding the fact that this isn't "table salt" to begin with...) It's a way to remove salt from the soil that would otherwise prevent more useful crops from growing there. Ever hear the expression "Salting the earth"? That's one thing waring tribes did to eachother's land... because you can't grow crops in salty dirt! (If you don't believe me, try watering your houseplants with seawater)
This reminds me a lot of the mineral absorbing plants talked about here a long while ago.
As for what you might actually use the potassium, calcium and magnesium salts for isn't really an issue. I have no idea where or if these chemicals are used for anything, and you're right: there's probably easier ways to get them if they are.
=Smidge=