A circular economy for salt that keeps rivers clean | Tina Arrowood

During the winter of 2018-2019, one million tons of salt were applied to icy roads in the state of Pennsylvania alone. The salt from industrial uses like this often ends up in freshwater rivers, making their water undrinkable and contributing to a growing global crisis. How can we better protect these precious natural resources? Physical organic chemist Tina Arrowood shares a three-step plan to keep salt out of rivers -- and create a circular salt economy that turns industrial byproducts into valuable resources.

[machgtx]

I remember a great lecture in architectural school about how less than 1 percent of Earth's water is potable and that really struck me on how valuable our clean water is and to treat it accordingly.

[DerNudelbaer]

Met her yesterday and spoke with her about 30min; such a great person! 👍🏼

[zacharyschmidt]

Thank you for giving a TED talk with factual information crediting the source material in the presentation itself. As a former educator, I feel it’s always important to cite your information and so many TED talks lately have only been individuals speaking on stage without credible information. So once again, thank you.

[realKushy]

Yield is 1 gallon per 3 gallons wasted witch reverse osmosis. Cool idea with the salt application. The big thing is eliminating waste! I'm with this!

[ronkirk]

One half of all fertilizers applied to crops, lawns and golf courses is taken up by plants and the other half ends up in our ground and surface waters. Over fertilizing increases profits for agribusiness, but is bad for all the rest of us. Acidic waste water generated by industry is most often neutralized using sodium hydroxide which increases salinity in the waste water.

[YouAndImpact]

Great sustainable project that mankind needs desperately now!

[chrisconsultant]

Great forward approach for sustainability! Long overdue!

[easysimplecuisinefarmer]

Thanks for your research and protecting the environment.

[jacobopstad]

I would really like to know more about these membranes are made

[susan]

Is there salt in the fertilizer and sand that is put on the road?

[I_am_Jek]

The League of Legends community is a circular economy for salt.

[neilpatton]

Fresh water is a valuable resource. If you want to actually find that value and optimize its distribution, then you must seek property in all things and allow the market to function. If you wish to continue the sub-optimal preservation and distribution that exists now, then keep applying the same state and collective solutions that violate rights and destroy prices. The state is not the answer.

[openheart]

None of this makes a 100% pure product. This amount of salt alone is not a problem but polution is. I add salt to fresh water this helps fish survival rates. And drought increases salt naturally in rivers.

[EonWhite]

Alright. Am I the only one, who sees the red lamps in the background as morph ball Samus and the hexagons as Metroid Prime doors?
Nintendo, please! I need a new Metroid game!

[ThaoNguyen-qwve]

Rất hay nhưng mình cũng rất buồn ngủ khi nghe

[pyschologygeek]

Classy is when you have a lot to say, but choose to remain silent in front of idiots

[btrcool]

I am sorry, but she's wrong! The salt is not the problem.

[daveanderson]

Sorry, We are about 30 years too late, and that is before you calculate in the population growth of the last 30 years