How to Build a Desalinator
A desalinator is any device that removes salt from another substance, typically water. The most common technique is some form of distillation in which the water is evaporated, leaving the salt behind. The water vapor is then collected and condensed back into a liquid as pure water. Industrial desalinators are common in the Middle East due to the scarcity of water. You can also build a small desalinator as a home experiment.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- One quart water
- Three tablespoons salt
- Large bowl
- Plastic wrap
- Rubber band
- Small cup
- Small round stones
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1
Add the salt to the water and mix thoroughly. Place the cup in the middle of the bowl, and fill the bowl with the salt water to a depth that is lower than the rim of the cup, making sure that the water does not overflow into the cup.
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2
Cover the bowl with a section of plastic wrap so that it overlaps the edge of the bowl. Push the middle of the wrap slightly to create some slack in the wrap. Secure the wrap with the rubber band to form a watertight seal around the entire circumference of the bowl.
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3
Put a few weights in the middle of the wrap covering the bowl. There should be enough weight to create a noticeable sag in the wrap but not so much that the wrap touches the cup. Ensure that the lowest point of the wrap is directly over the cup.
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4
Place the bowl in direct sunlight or some other warm place. The heat will cause the water to evaporate and collect on the bottom of the plastic wrap, leaving the salt in the bowl. These droplets of water will tend to slide down the plastic wrap to its lowest point and drip into the cup as the water accumulates on the plastic wrap.
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