Physico-chemical study of dead sea waters: IV. Heat of mixing of dead sea and Mediterranean Sea waters

Abstract

When a projected canal between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea is built, the mixing of two different waters would take place. This mixing would be accompanied by a thermal effect (heat of mixing, Δ H mix) consisting of different contributions (including heats of dilution and concentration of various solutes, heats of hydration, etc.). In the present study, the heats of mixing of Mediterranean Sea water with natural Dead Sea water have been measured at 25°C for the entire range of these waters' ratios. The mixing of Mediterranean Sea water with Dead Sea water is accompanied by an exothermal effect which reaches a maximum (− 4.46 kJ (kg mix) −1) at a weight fraction of Dead Sea water equal to ca. 0.58. Although the heat of mixing of Dead Sea and Mediterranean Sea waters is a local heat effect, and its contribution to the thermal equilibrium of the whole Dead Sea would be negligible, its influence on some physico-chemical properties of the Dead Sea water body and its chemical processes could be very significant.