Re:New method turns ocean water into drinking water, without...
by xyzzyz on Friday June 05, 2026 @06:50PM
(#48419357)
Maybe, but dumping crystalline salt is even worse to the spot you’re dumping it on.
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Re:New method turns ocean water into drinking water, without...
by card_zero on Friday June 05, 2026 @06:58PM
(#48419430)
I wonder. It would have to dissolve, a big block of salt would take a while, kind of like the erosion of cliffs where the salt comes from in the first place. Eh, I guess you're right though, the fish wouldn't like that at all.
Re:New method turns ocean water into drinking water, without...
by asdff on Friday June 05, 2026 @08:51PM
(#48420269)
It doesn't need to be crystalline salt. Just mix the brine with seawater at a really high ratio of sea water to brine then dump that out. 100:1 ratio should be fine I would guess. Quick search suggests seawater salinity variance is already like 10%-15% or so. Even better if you pipe it offshore where currents will take it and not somewhere that doesn't circulate.
Re:New method turns ocean water into drinking water, without...
by xyzzyz on Friday June 05, 2026 @11:14PM
(#48421036)
Yes, that's my point: if you're next to the ocean, disposing of brine is extremely easy.
Re:New method turns ocean water into drinking water, without...
by pajko on Friday June 05, 2026 @11:32PM
(#48421117)
You could put it back into old salt mines.
Re:New method turns ocean water into drinking water, without...
by kijin on Friday June 05, 2026 @11:48PM
(#48421205)
Even better, just package it up and eat it instead of digging underground and creating more pollution.
It's not every day that industrial waste happens to be not only edible but also tasty. Too tasty, in fact. Salt is addictive.
Re:New method turns ocean water into drinking water, without...
by xp84 on Saturday June 06, 2026 @01:03AM
(#48421565)
It’s not going to be pure NaCl though; making Morton salt with it would make sense only if it wouldn’t cost more to process it (net of its resale value) than just disposing of it somewhere not particularly sensitive. I’d propose the Utah salt flats or indeed, kinda love the idea of just sticking them in a salt mine that is all tapped out. If it used to be chock full of salt it seems pretty environmentally fair to make it salty again.
Re:New method turns ocean water into drinking water, without...
by kijin on Saturday June 06, 2026 @05:05AM
(#48422934)
The impurities are exactly what give sea salt from various regions their distinctive flavors and mineral profiles. The salt should be edible as long as it wasn't pulled from seriously polluted waters. It might even sell for a premium.