salting out

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. the addition of salt to a mixture to precipitate proteins, soaps, and other simple organic compounds.

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Etymology

Origin of salting out

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

And although irrigation has helped countries with high birthrates avert hunger, it has reintroduced the hoary nemesis that played a big role in the downfall of Mesopotamia and Babylon: the salting out of the soil.

From Time Magazine Archive

Salt, known as sodium chloride, is used to a large extent in soap making for "salting out" the soap during saponification, as well as graining soaps.

From Soap-Making Manual A Practical Handbook on the Raw Materials, Their Manipulation, Analysis and Control in the Modern Soap Plant. by Thomssen, E. G.

It will be noticed that in this simple method of soap-making, there is no salting out to separate the true soap from the watery solution of glycerine, for no glycerine is present.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 447, July 26, 1884 by Various