Manufacture of epsom salt from sea bitterns

Abstract

Large quant it ies of Epsom Salt (MgS04.7H20) and Kiesserite (MgS04.H20) are imported to Sri Lanka, ~IS fertilisers, for the cultivation of annual crops, such as cereals, fruits and vegetables and for the cultivation of perennial crops, such as tea, rubber and coconut. The element Mg is essential to all types of plants since it is required to produce chlorophyl, the green colour pigment in leaves, which absorbs solar radiation to energise photosynthesis reactions that produce carbohydrates by combining carbon dioxide and water. Mg is also required for metabolism and bioenergetics of a plant