BIOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT OF KRYSTALLINE SALT WORKS, MALINDI DISTRICT, KENYA

摘要

Krystalline salt limited comprises of salt works located at Marareni, Gongoni and kurawa in Malindi district, Kenya has been taken for study. The Marareni found to be much better in quality of salt and quantity of production. However the system of ponds at Gongoni and Kurawa receives nutrient rich intake water from tidal mangrove flat and hence there is an excessive biological productivity in the low salinity ponds of the system. This is evident from the results of the water and soil samples collected from these areas and indicated that the bottom of the pond is greenish black with organic material bacteria which is accumulating and decreasing the pond depths .In the case of Marareni local species of Artemia are abundant, therefore the development of red halophylic bacteria in sufficient quantities destroy significant quantities of organic matter in the crystallisers to carbon di oxide and water and therefore the results show that there is quality in salt and results in quantity of salt production. However, this is to be developed in Gongoni and Kurawa salt works. Further the gypsum precipitation and contamination of insolubles and Ca, Mg in these salt works is reasoned. The role of halophylic bacteria in salt crystallization leading to quality and quantity of salt production is discussed. The role of bacteria in gypsum crystallization, like sodium chloride crystallization needs to be explored.