Separating mixed salt and ground pepper is an ancient physics challenge. It can also have a purely practical value when, somewhere far from civilization, the contents of two torn bags are mixed in your backpack. The two substances can be separated by the fact that they behave differently in water.
It is necessary
- - a mixture of salt and pepper;
- - glass or plastic vessel;
- - enameled mug;
- - paper napkins;
- - funnel;
- - water;
- - Primus stove, camping gas stove or fire.
Instructions
Step 1
Heat up the water. This is necessary in order for the salt to dissolve faster. However, don't overdo it and don't bring the water to a boil. It should be warm, but not hot, otherwise the pepper will cook.
Step 2
Pour the salt and pepper mixture into any dish. Fill it with water. Stir the mixture gently with a spoon or stick to dissolve the salt more quickly. If you have heated the water properly, the pepper will float to the surface. It can be collected with the same spoon, transferred to a small flat container (for example, a lid from a jar) and dried in the sun. In the process, you need to stir it several times so that it does not rot when you pack it again after a halt.
Step 3
No matter how carefully you collect the pepper from the surface of the solution, you are unlikely to be able to catch all of it. Therefore, the solution must be filtered. The best way to do this is through a funnel. However, it may not appear in the field. Make it yourself. Take any plastic bottle and cut the top off as straight as possible. The funnel is ready. Since you are working with not very hot liquid, the pen is optional.
Step 4
Fold the napkin in half. Insert the filter into the funnel, closing the opening. Filter the solution gently over an enamel mug. The napkin can be used once.
Step 5
Place the enamel mug with the solution on the fire. For evaporation, it is better to use a primus or a camping stove, but as a last resort, you can do this on a fire. Keep the mug on the fire until all the water has boiled away. Only salt will remain at the bottom. If you are cooking soup at the same time, some of the saline solution can be used immediately. Your companions, having tasted the dish you have prepared, will not feel any difference.
Step 6
If you are going to pack the salt again, dry it. It certainly won't rot like pepper. However, when hiking, you need to try to keep the weight of the backpack as small as possible, so every gram is important. A dry product weighs slightly less than a wet product. The salt dries quickly enough so you won't waste a lot of time.
