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Inorganic salts drying equipment selection: form, heat sensitivity and recommended machine for 18 materials (Magnesium sulfate, Zinc sulfate, Copper sulfate and others), with the full line configuration and trial run points.
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18 material(s) listed for this industry.
Inorganic salts 18 items
| Material | Form | Heat sensitivity | Recommended dryer | Alternative | Selection notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnesium sulfate | Granular | Moderate | Flash Airflow Dryer | Rotary Dryer |
Magnesium sulphate is a typical hygroscopic inorganic salt, and the difficulty sits at the material end rather than the heat end. It absorbs moisture quickly and takes it back just as quickly; the mother liquor carries seven waters of crystallisation, and dehydration has to happen in one step, because stopping halfway is what makes it cake. Our standard configuration is a flash airflow line: the material reaches the target moisture within seconds, the residence time is too short for any window to re-absorb moisture, and the discharge end goes straight into sealed packaging, which is the single most important step in the process. The rotary drum is the alternative, used when throughput is larger or when a longer residence time is needed to convert the heptahydrate fully to the anhydrous form. Natural gas or direct-fired biomass both work, but biomass needs flame isolation and spark capture: magnesium sulphate itself is not combustible, whereas ash carried into the product is the real problem. Final moisture is usually set below 0.5 percent, and that figure has to be confirmed by trial run, because variation in the incoming moisture of a batch shows up directly in the finished product.
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| Zinc sulfate | Granular | Not heat-sensitive | Rotary Dryer | Flash Airflow Dryer |
Contains water of crystallisation; control temperature to avoid over-dehydration. Granules can be carried by hot air or lifted by the flights inside a drum, so the route comes down to throughput scale and to how strong the granules are. There is little restriction on temperature for this material; the real constraints are throughput and energy cost, so the process parameters can be opened up a little. Throughput on a drum is set by working volume and residence time together, so the denser and more solid the material, the more the drum can hold. With a wide size spread the short path wins: fines leave first and coarse material follows, and the moisture spreads out as a result. The alternative is a flash airflow dryer, which is the route to switch to when throughput is modest and the material needs a shorter heating time. Send a sample with the enquiry. The moisture and bulk density of the actual zinc sulfate decide the machine size far more than the name does.
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| Copper sulfate | Granular | Not heat-sensitive | Rotary Dryer | Flash Airflow Dryer |
Fairly corrosive; select the right material for product-contact parts. Granules can be carried by hot air or lifted by the flights inside a drum, so the route comes down to throughput scale and to how strong the granules are. There is little restriction on temperature for this material; the real constraints are throughput and energy cost, so the process parameters can be opened up a little. Throughput on a drum is set by working volume and residence time together, so the denser and more solid the material, the more the drum can hold. With a wide size spread the short path wins: fines leave first and coarse material follows, and the moisture spreads out as a result. The alternative is a flash airflow dryer, which is the route to switch to when throughput is modest and the material needs a shorter heating time. When ordering, ask for copper sulfate by name and give the actual moisture and bulk density of the incoming material, so the machine size can be fixed in one pass.
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| Lithium carbonate | Powder | Moderate | Rotary Dryer | Electric Heating Dryer |
Battery grade lithium carbonate is sensitive on three fronts at once: moisture, impurities and particle size, which makes it one of the most demanding materials on the line. If moisture is not held, the battery plant receives a rejected batch; if impurities are over, the precursor synthesis is affected; and if the particle size spreads, blending downstream is uneven. Our approach is a rotary drum rather than a flash unit, because lithium carbonate has a high bulk density and has to be taken below 0.3 percent moisture: the seconds-long heating of a flash dryer carries the fines around inside the duct and they cannot be graded out, whereas the flights in a drum keep the material tumbling with far more relative motion, so the residual moisture can be drawn out over a longer residence time at the tail end. The heat source is electric or electromagnetic, with no open flame, which removes the risk of a flame in a hydrogen atmosphere and keeps the drum wall below 150°C so the carbonate does not decompose. The moisture basis has to be written into the contract: dry basis and wet basis differ by thirty percent, so the quotation and the acceptance test are not the same number.
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| Lithium hydroxide | Powder | Moderate | Electric Heating Dryer | Rotary Dryer |
Both hygroscopic and corrosive; temperature and humidity control both matter. If the powder is still wet when it enters the machine it will ball up in the conveying section; by the time it reaches the heat exchange zone it has to be loose, or even good hot air cannot move it. The material tolerates moderate to high temperature for a while but not a long dwell, so the process needs temperature margin built in. Electric heating removes the heat source problem, but the energy cost per tonne of water has to be worked out; it suits small batches and heat sensitive material. Powder that sits for long enough will bridge, so the feed end needs a breaker or forced feeding; every blockage stops the line. The alternative is a rotary dryer, which is the route to switch to when the material needs a longer residence time or the line is scaling up to tens of tonnes a day. Send a sample with the enquiry. The moisture and bulk density of the actual lithium hydroxide decide the machine size far more than the name does.
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| Sodium nitrate | Granular | Not heat-sensitive | Rotary Dryer | Flash Airflow Dryer |
Oxidising material; avoid local overheating. Granules can be carried by hot air or lifted by the flights inside a drum, so the route comes down to throughput scale and to how strong the granules are. There is little restriction on temperature for this material; the real constraints are throughput and energy cost, so the process parameters can be opened up a little. Throughput on a drum is set by working volume and residence time together, so the denser and more solid the material, the more the drum can hold. With a wide size spread the short path wins: fines leave first and coarse material follows, and the moisture spreads out as a result. The alternative is a flash airflow dryer, which is the route to switch to when throughput is modest and the material needs a shorter heating time. If the incoming grade of sodium nitrate is not the one quoted before, the parameters have to be given again rather than carried over from an earlier order.
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| Magnesium chloride | Flake | Not heat-sensitive | Rotary Dryer |
Extremely hygroscopic; pack immediately after discharge. Flakes bridge easily, so the feed section needs a disintegrator or forced feeding; once the material balls up and blocks the inlet, the best hot air in the building is wasted. The material itself is heat tolerant, so the ceiling comes from the equipment and from by-products rather than from the material, which means heat can be supplied generously and throughput pushed up. The drum route does not care about material form: lumps, paste and fibre all go in, at the cost of a large footprint and high initial investment. Too much tumbling breaks flakes, so the flights have to support them and the speed should not be high. The process route is fairly specialised and there is little room to switch equipment, so the configuration has to be right the first time. Do not describe the material only as powder or granules: give the measured moisture and bulk density for magnesium chloride, because two materials of the same form can differ by a whole machine size.
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| Borax | Granular | Not heat-sensitive | Rotary Dryer | Flash Airflow Dryer |
Contains water of crystallisation; excessive heat causes melting and caking. Granules have a higher bulk density than powder, so drum fill can be set more generously than for powder, but room must still be left for the material to tumble. The material itself is heat tolerant, so the ceiling comes from the equipment and from by-products rather than from the material, which means heat can be supplied generously and throughput pushed up. The drum route does not care about material form: lumps, paste and fibre all go in, at the cost of a large footprint and high initial investment. With a wide size spread the short path wins: fines leave first and coarse material follows, and the moisture spreads out as a result. The alternative is a flash airflow dryer, which is the route to switch to when throughput is modest and the material needs a shorter heating time. Send a sample with the enquiry. The moisture and bulk density of the actual borax decide the machine size far more than the name does.
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| Sodium fluoride | Powder | Not heat-sensitive | Rotary Dryer | Flash Airflow Dryer |
Dust from the powder must be controlled; dust collection required. If the powder is still wet when it enters the machine it will ball up in the conveying section; by the time it reaches the heat exchange zone it has to be loose, or even good hot air cannot move it. The material itself is heat tolerant, so the ceiling comes from the equipment and from by-products rather than from the material, which means heat can be supplied generously and throughput pushed up. The drum route does not care about material form: lumps, paste and fibre all go in, at the cost of a large footprint and high initial investment. Dust settling in the ducts and in the dust collector changes the resistance, the air volume drops with it, and the cleaning cycle has to be part of the process. The alternative is a flash airflow dryer, which is the route to switch to when throughput is modest and the material needs a shorter heating time. If the incoming grade of sodium fluoride is not the one quoted before, the parameters have to be given again rather than carried over from an earlier order.
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| Ferrous sulfate | Granular | Not heat-sensitive | Rotary Dryer | Flash Airflow Dryer |
Prone to oxidation; control both drying and discharge temperature. Granules have a higher bulk density than powder, so drum fill can be set more generously than for powder, but room must still be left for the material to tumble. The material itself is heat tolerant, so the ceiling comes from the equipment and from by-products rather than from the material, which means heat can be supplied generously and throughput pushed up. The drum route does not care about material form: lumps, paste and fibre all go in, at the cost of a large footprint and high initial investment. With a wide size spread the short path wins: fines leave first and coarse material follows, and the moisture spreads out as a result. The alternative is a flash airflow dryer, which is the route to switch to when throughput is modest and the material needs a shorter heating time. When ordering, ask for ferrous sulfate by name and give the actual moisture and bulk density of the incoming material, so the machine size can be fixed in one pass.
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| Sodium sulfate | Powder | Not heat-sensitive | Rotary Dryer | Flash Airflow Dryer |
Fine inorganic salt; drum drying is stable in continuous operation. Powder has a low bulk density and takes up a lot of volume for the same weight, so drum size is usually worked out backwards from the throughput rather than from the material. Good heat tolerance means it can be dried fast and hot or slow and cool, and the choice between the two is a trade between energy cost and capital investment. A rotary dryer lifts and drops the material repeatedly with flights to form a curtain, so the material stays inside for minutes to tens of minutes, which suits heavy, heat tolerant material. Dust settling in the ducts and in the dust collector changes the resistance, the air volume drops with it, and the cleaning cycle has to be part of the process. The alternative is a flash airflow dryer, which is the route to switch to when throughput is modest and the material needs a shorter heating time. When ordering, ask for sodium sulfate by name and give the actual moisture and bulk density of the incoming material, so the machine size can be fixed in one pass.
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| Industrial sodium chloride | Granular | Not heat-sensitive | Rotary Dryer | Flash Airflow Dryer |
Contains chloride ions; 316L stainless recommended for product-contact parts. Granules can be carried by hot air or lifted by the flights inside a drum, so the route comes down to throughput scale and to how strong the granules are. There is little restriction on temperature for this material; the real constraints are throughput and energy cost, so the process parameters can be opened up a little. Throughput on a drum is set by working volume and residence time together, so the denser and more solid the material, the more the drum can hold. With a wide size spread the short path wins: fines leave first and coarse material follows, and the moisture spreads out as a result. The alternative is a flash airflow dryer, which is the route to switch to when throughput is modest and the material needs a shorter heating time. When ordering, ask for industrial sodium chloride by name and give the actual moisture and bulk density of the incoming material, so the machine size can be fixed in one pass.
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| Nickel sulfate | Granular | Not heat-sensitive | Rotary Dryer | Flash Airflow Dryer |
Salt solution is corrosive; 316L stainless recommended for product-contact parts. Granules can be carried by hot air or lifted by the flights inside a drum, so the route comes down to throughput scale and to how strong the granules are. There is little restriction on temperature for this material; the real constraints are throughput and energy cost, so the process parameters can be opened up a little. Throughput on a drum is set by working volume and residence time together, so the denser and more solid the material, the more the drum can hold. With a wide size spread the short path wins: fines leave first and coarse material follows, and the moisture spreads out as a result. The alternative is a flash airflow dryer, which is the route to switch to when throughput is modest and the material needs a shorter heating time. When ordering, ask for nickel sulfate by name and give the actual moisture and bulk density of the incoming material, so the machine size can be fixed in one pass.
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| Cobalt sulfate | Granular | Not heat-sensitive | Rotary Dryer | Flash Airflow Dryer |
Salt solution is corrosive; 316L stainless recommended for product-contact parts. Granules have a higher bulk density than powder, so drum fill can be set more generously than for powder, but room must still be left for the material to tumble. The material itself is heat tolerant, so the ceiling comes from the equipment and from by-products rather than from the material, which means heat can be supplied generously and throughput pushed up. The drum route does not care about material form: lumps, paste and fibre all go in, at the cost of a large footprint and high initial investment. With a wide size spread the short path wins: fines leave first and coarse material follows, and the moisture spreads out as a result. The alternative is a flash airflow dryer, which is the route to switch to when throughput is modest and the material needs a shorter heating time. Send a sample with the enquiry. The moisture and bulk density of the actual cobalt sulfate decide the machine size far more than the name does.
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| Potassium chloride | Granular | Not heat-sensitive | Rotary Dryer | Flash Airflow Dryer |
Crystalline salt, moderately hygroscopic. Granules can be carried by hot air or lifted by the flights inside a drum, so the route comes down to throughput scale and to how strong the granules are. There is little restriction on temperature for this material; the real constraints are throughput and energy cost, so the process parameters can be opened up a little. Throughput on a drum is set by working volume and residence time together, so the denser and more solid the material, the more the drum can hold. With a wide size spread the short path wins: fines leave first and coarse material follows, and the moisture spreads out as a result. The alternative is a flash airflow dryer, which is the route to switch to when throughput is modest and the material needs a shorter heating time. Send a sample with the enquiry. The moisture and bulk density of the actual potassium chloride decide the machine size far more than the name does.
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| Sodium sulfite | Granular | Moderate | Rotary Dryer | Flash Airflow Dryer |
Prone to oxidation; control temperature and shorten exposure. Granules can be carried by hot air or lifted by the flights inside a drum, so the route comes down to throughput scale and to how strong the granules are. At high temperature this material loses water first and discolours later, so holding the temperature is enough, but the combination of temperature and time still has to be confirmed by trial run. Throughput on a drum is set by working volume and residence time together, so the denser and more solid the material, the more the drum can hold. Granules rub against each other inside the drum, so a material with a high fine fraction also means thinking about drum liners and discharge-end dust collection. The alternative is a flash airflow dryer, which is the route to switch to when throughput is modest and the material needs a shorter heating time. Send a sample with the enquiry. The moisture and bulk density of the actual sodium sulfite decide the machine size far more than the name does.
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| Sodium hexametaphosphate | Powder | Not heat-sensitive | Flash Airflow Dryer | Rotary Dryer |
Powder picks up moisture readily; seal after drying. If the powder is still wet when it enters the machine it will ball up in the conveying section; by the time it reaches the heat exchange zone it has to be loose, or even good hot air cannot move it. The material itself is heat tolerant, so the ceiling comes from the equipment and from by-products rather than from the material, which means heat can be supplied generously and throughput pushed up. The advantages of flash are the short heating time and the minimal mechanical action on the material; the cost is that throughput is capped by air volume and duct size, and very large lines still need a drum. Dust settling in the ducts and in the dust collector changes the resistance, the air volume drops with it, and the cleaning cycle has to be part of the process. The alternative is a rotary dryer, which is the route to switch to when the material needs a longer residence time or the line is scaling up to tens of tonnes a day. Send a sample with the enquiry. The moisture and bulk density of the actual sodium hexametaphosphate decide the machine size far more than the name does.
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| Calcium nitrate | Granular | Not heat-sensitive | Rotary Dryer | Flash Airflow Dryer |
Highly hygroscopic; pack immediately after drying. Granules can be carried by hot air or lifted by the flights inside a drum, so the route comes down to throughput scale and to how strong the granules are. There is little restriction on temperature for this material; the real constraints are throughput and energy cost, so the process parameters can be opened up a little. Throughput on a drum is set by working volume and residence time together, so the denser and more solid the material, the more the drum can hold. With a wide size spread the short path wins: fines leave first and coarse material follows, and the moisture spreads out as a result. The alternative is a flash airflow dryer, which is the route to switch to when throughput is modest and the material needs a shorter heating time. If the incoming grade of calcium nitrate is not the one quoted before, the parameters have to be given again rather than carried over from an earlier order.
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Recommendations above are a selection direction based on material form, heat sensitivity and throughput. Capacity varies with the material, the initial moisture content and the target final moisture, and the formal figures come from a trial run.
Four steps to a selectionHow to choose
- Material form Powder, granule and flake material can be carried in an air stream; blocky, paste-like and fibrous material has to be tumbled inside a drum.
- Heat sensitivity This comes first. Where the material is heat-sensitive and its form allows air conveying, a flash airflow dryer is the natural choice — regardless of output, because exposure to heat is measured in seconds. Material that tolerates heat can be dried more slowly and at lower cost.
- Throughput and budget Where budget and batch size matter more than output, a batch rotary dryer carries relatively low capital cost and suits a small plant or workshop. For high output, a continuous rotary dryer feeds and discharges at the same time and runs non-stop.
- Environment and energy Where emissions are constrained or there is no steam supply, electric and electromagnetic heating avoids an open flame and responds faster.
Where the material is corrosive (acidic, chloride-bearing, saline and so on), the parts in contact can be specified in stainless steel: 201 / 304 / 316L / 430 / 2205 duplex and other grades to order.
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Material · Selection · Trial run