Uses

There are a variety of different uses for salt including de-icing, as a component in the manufacture of many products and as an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Salt is essential for our industries. Its compounds make it one of the most important materials in the chemical industry since more than 50% of chemical products depend on it at some point in their manufacture. It is also used in the manufacturing process of thousands of other commodities including glass, paper, rubber, and textiles and in water softening systems for industry and domestic use.

All over Europe, people use salt during the winter to keep their roads free of snow and ice. The effective use of de-icing salt helps to prevent accidents and ensure that businesses are not adversely affected by haulage delays.

Most people are familiar with salt as an ingredient in food. All humans need salt to live and since the human body is not capable of producing its own salt, we depend upon the various sources of salt in food to ensure our necessary daily intake.

While salt is vital to ensure the body functions correctly, historically humans have also been drawn to it as a taste enhancer. Today, it is an essential part of the manufacturing process of many foods, playing a crucial part in the final texture of products like bread, cheese, sausages, certain meat and fish products., In ancient times salt was used as a practical way to preserve food (for humans and animals) that would otherwise have gone bad after just a few days. Although we now have the benefit of technology to help us keep food fresh, salt is still used to extend the shelf life of certain products.

Animals also need salt in order to live which is why salt is sometimes added to animal feed or given to them as salt ‘licks’ (blocks of salt). It can also used as a carrier for other essential minerals such as iron, copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, iodine and selenium.

In the home, salt can be used as a water softener to prevent the build up of deposits of scale. It is also used in dishwashers to improve the cleaning performance of the machine. This means less cleaning product is needed, the efficiency and longevity of domestic appliances is increased and the impact on the environment is reduced.

In 2006 the amount of salt used across the world was estimated to be 256Mt. Global consumption of salt is rising in response to increasing demand in Asia (especially China) and other developing countries. The main consuming regions in 2006 were Asia, Europe and North America which accounted for an estimated 39%, 27% and 26% respectively, of the total amount used.

For more detailed information please visit the relevant sections of our site: Chemical Applications, De-icing, Food Grade Salt & Animal Feed Salt, Water Treatment, and Other Applications.