Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why are settling tanks used before brine enters a salt grainer?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Cluster of translucent, white salt crystals with sharp cubic shapes viewed under a microscope at high magnification against a dark background. — salt Salt crystal magnified.

Settling tanks are used before brine enters a salt grainer primarily to purify the solution. In these tanks, the brine undergoes chemical treatment to remove calcium and magnesium compounds, which are common impurities in natural or artificial brine. By settling and filtering the brine before it is delivered to the grainer—a long, steam-heated trough—manufacturers ensure that the resulting salt crystals are of higher purity and quality.1