Types of salt

Salt in daily language mostly means sodium chloride. In chemistry salt is used in a much wider sense.

A salt is a chemical ionic compound composed of positively charged ions and negative ions. Sodium chloride is composed of the positive sodium ion (Na⁺) and the negative chloride ion (Cl^-) with the formula NaCl.

Salt in our field means sodium chloride by salt. By way of production we differentiate three types of sodium chloride. There are Rock salt, sea salt and vacuum salt. However, all the salt produced in Europe has its origins in the sea. It is produced directly form seawater of derived from rock salt deposits.

Rock Salt

Rock salt is derived from underground salt deposits by means of traditional mining. The salt is fractured from the sediment by blasting or cutting. Next the salt is crushed and by a network of pathways and conveyer belts brought to the surface for further processing

Sea Salt

Sea Salt is produced through the natural evaporation of seawater by the sun energy. The sea water is assembled in shallow basins. The water in the basins is evaporated by solar heath until a thin layer of sea salt remains. The single most important condition for sea salt extraction is extensive sunshine to make evaporation possible.

Vacuum Salt

Vacuum salt is derived from underground salt deposits by means of solution mining. Water is forced down a shaft, dissolving the salt in the sediment. The saturated water – brine – brought back to the surface. The brine is purified and evaporated. The resulting wet salt is then centrifuged and dried.