Using Epsom Salts as a Dehydrator
Jack Boot
experimented with Epsom salts with some success. Here is what I found
out:
Epsom Salts is the common name for the chemical "Magnesium Sulphate". It
is sold in stores as a bath salt, or soaking salt. It is also used as a
laxative. Drinking a glass of water with a teaspoon of dissolved Epsom
Salts increases the amount of water in the bowel. Occasional use of
Epsom Salts as a laxative is safe unless a person has kidney disease.
Excess Magnesium in the blood is removed from the body by the kidneys.
Using Epsom Salts as a dehydrator is safe, even for people with kidney
disease, because the Epsom Salt is not consumed.
Epsom Salts have to be treated before they can be used as a dehydrator.
Epsom Salts contain water in their chemistry. Many chemical compounds
are this way. They are generally called "hydrated inorganic compounds".
The water in Epsom salts can be removed by heat. When this is done the
Epsom Salts are in a "dried" or "dehydrated" condition and they readily
absorb water from the air. After they absorb enough atmospheric water
(humidity) they are no longer in the dried/dehydrated form and are then
considered to be "hydrated". The hydrated form of Epsom Salts no longer
absorbs water from the air. But the hydrated Epsom Salts can be
reheated, once again creating the dried form which can be used as a
dehydrator.
I was able to dehydrate Epsom Salts. To do so I placed about a cup of
the Epsom Salt crystals purchased from a drug store into a stainless
steel saucepan (about nine inch diameter). I turned on the heat (gas
range) to about high medium. Don't use a cast iron skillet. During the
heating process the Epsom Salt has a tendency to react with the cast
iron metal. Use a stainless steel pan.
When heated, the crystals appear to melt after a few minutes. They are
not really "melting". They are DISSOLVING in the water that is released
from the heating process. The Epsom Salts begin to boil. It is the water
that is actually boiling. After a couple of minutes or so the liquid
stops boiling and it turns to a mostly solid mass. It looks opaque
white, more like the color of ordinary table salt than like the original
mostly clearish crystalline appearance of the Epsom Salts in the
hydrated form.
When the Epsom Salts are turned solid after heating they are in the
dehydrated state and will quickly start absorbing water from the air.
I scraped up the crystalline mass from the pan quickly (and carefully,
everything is HOT). I put the dehydrated Epsom Salts into a dry, very
warm Mason canning jar that had been in a hot oven. I put on a clean lid
and screw ring to seal.
To use the salts as a dehydrator I opened the canning jar and put about
two Tablespoons into a small square of aluminum foil. I quickly resealed
the jar to keep the rest of the salts fresh.
I wrapped it up the Epsom Salts into the foil making a tight foil
packet, crimping the edges to seal. I then poked numerous holes into the
foil with a small nail. The packet was put into the container which had
the dried food product that needed to stay dry. The container was sealed
to keep out the air.
As long as the lid was sealed in the canning jar the stored, dehydrated
Epsom Salts stayed dry.
------------------------------------------------------------.
Using Absorbent Cotton as a dehydrator--
I read an old laboratory handbook written by Louis F. Fieser, NYU
Professor of Organic Chemistry (and the Inventor of "Napalm").
Fieser claimed that ordinary "absorbent cotton" was a very efficient
dehydrator. The cotton was heated in an oven until very dry, then sealed
in a container until needed. The cotton had to be the 100% cotton
labelled "absorbent" and not the cotton balls of a polyester blend sold
and used as cosmetic applicators.
btw-Sometimes sterile absorbent cotton is found in first aid kits. This
product should never be used to pack a wound or as a compress to stop
bleeding. Always use sterile gauze for wound application.
Jack Boot
deepdudu
wrote:
>Epsom Salts can be used as a dehydrator to keep dried foods dry. I have
>experimented with Epsom salts with some success. Here is what I found
>out:
>
>Epsom Salts is the common name for the chemical "Magnesium Sulphate". It
>is sold in stores as a bath salt, or soaking salt. It is also used as a
>laxative. Drinking a glass of water with a teaspoon of dissolved Epsom
>Salts increases the amount of water in the bowel. Occasional use of
>Epsom Salts as a laxative is safe unless a person has kidney disease.
>Excess Magnesium in the blood is removed from the body by the kidneys.
It's also sold in 25 pound bags as a hydroponic plant fertilizer as it
is very stable and provides two of the essential minor nutrients
magnesium and sulfur. And I did not know about the dehydration trick.
Very, very interesting. Thanks for posting.
natp
"An excellent drying agent (anhydrite) can be made by heating
the gypsum in ordinary gypsum wallboard (sheetrock)."
http://www.oism.org/nwss/s73p938.htm
Jack Boot
>"An excellent drying agent (anhydrite) can be
>made by heating the gypsum in ordinary
>gypsum wallboard (sheetrock)."
Yeah, gypsum is Calcium sulfate. Chemists use it as a desiccant (drying
agent). A commercial product (?Drierite®) is a mixture of Calcium
sulphate and Cobalt chloride which is a humidity indicator. Turns blue
when dry and red when water is absorbed. When Drierite turns red it can
be reheated, when blue it is ready to dry again. Can be used over and
over.
Sheetrock is Calcium sulphate. Plaster-of-Paris is also Calcium
sulphate. Could be used in a similar way.
RE: http://www.oism.org/nwss/s73p938.htm
Thanks for posting that web site. Very interesting. I've often wondered
if an ordinary ion chamber could be used as a practical radiation
detector. I didn't know that aluminum could be used as the repeller
metal in the chamber. I've only known about gold leaf.
The procedure to charge the unit could be improved. Using a short length
of ordinary PVC pipe and a rough paper towel would be better.
That information page even has instructions on how to print and collate
the information. Outstanding! I'm getting ready for nuclear war...!
Jack Boot
Offbreed
> As long as the lid was sealed in the canning jar the stored, dehydrated
> Epsom Salts stayed dry.
Thanks. That sounds pretty simple. (ouch. oooo dat hot.)