How to Design Desalination Experiments
Desalination is the process of removing salt from some material, usually water. A science project that illustrates desalination can be constructed of almost any material that aids the evaporation of salt water, but there are a few common principles to bear in mind as you design a desalinator.
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Instructions
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Make salt water. A 3.5-percent solution of salt water simulates seawater. Mix 3 tablespoons of salt per quart of water.
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Evaporate the water. Most simple desalination experiments rely on the evaporation of salt water to remove the salt. It's vital that this process be carried out in a watertight container so that the water doesn't evaporate into the atmosphere.
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Use heat and sunlight to increase the evaporation rate. Desalination experiments that use passive evaporation will need a warm location, preferably in direct sunlight, to increase the evaporation rate.
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Collect the evaporated water. This technique must ensure that the water doesn't escape into the atmosphere and the water is collected before it mixes again with the salt.
A simple way to do this is to pour a small amount of salt water into a large plastic tub. Inside the large container, place a smaller container that is heavy enough not to float — a Mason jar, for instance. Cover the top of the large container with thick plastic wrap or a garbage bag and secure the wrap to the tub with tape. Place a small weight on top of the plastic wrap right above the smaller container. The fresh water will condense on the plastic wrap and drip down into the smaller container.
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Tips & Warnings
Understand the limitations of desalination experiments. These experiments are generally intended to only to show how desalination is performed. The actual amount of fresh water produced is typically very small and the experiment may require several days to complete.
