Method of coloring crystalline material

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention is described below as individual steps involved for convenience sake.
However, it is to be understood that the present invention can be contributed to a combined action of a series of steps.
In accordance with this invention, crystalline material, such as sodium chloride, is deposited into a microwave-safe container.
The mixture of sodium chloride and liquid food coloring agent, or dye, comprises between approximately 0.
1 and 2% by total weight of the liquid food dye, or coloring agent.
The coloring agent can be a water-based food dye containing propylene glycol.
A food coloring of a desired shade is gradually added into the container, while the mixture is being agitated.
The amount of food coloring will depend on the desired shade of color in the finished product.
During the experiments, it was determined that a food coloring agent, such as for example, one readily available on the market and manufactured by McCormick & Co.
of Hunt Valley, Mont.
, can be used with common salt, that is table salt in addition to rock salt and other various types of salt.
This coloring, according to the manufacturer, contains water, propylene glycol, various coloring agents, propylparaben as a preservative and sulfating agent.
The amount of food coloring added differs from approximately 0.
5 ml to about 7.
5 ml.
per 454 g of table salt.
The more coloring agent added, the more vibrant the color of the finished product.
The next step of this invention involves positioning of the salt mixed with a food coloring agent in the path of microwave energy and exposing the mixture to the microwave energy for a sufficient time to cause drying of the mixture.
The time of exposure to the microwave energy differs from 5 seconds to 1 minute.
The microwave energy can have a power of approximately 700 watts and higher, depending on the type of microwave oven available.
It is envisioned that as the power of the microwave energy increases, less drying time may be necessary