Brines Modelling Progress: A Management Tool for Tunisian Multipond Solar Salterns, Based on Physical, Chemical and Microbial Parameters

The physicochemical and microbial characterizations of 17 brine samples collected from a Tunisian solar saltern over three separate seasons, has been investigated. A regression analysis was applied to evaluate the multiple factors affecting the microbial density. The results revealed significant changes within the saline ponds. The factorial correspondences analysis (FCA) of the selected parameters, revealed four groupings displaying a positive relationship between: salt concentration, total organic carbon, turbidity, redox potential, total phosphorus, K+, Mg2+, SO4 2− and microbial abundance - when inversely correlated with the dissolved O2, pH and Ca2+ grouping. Furthermore, a strong dependence of prokaryotes to the microalgue Dunaliella was also recorded. It is considered that the establishment of these models, may prove to be of value in the prediction of brine characteristics during commercial salt processing.