subject: Magnetic water treatment [print this page] Magnetic water treatment
Mechanism
No proposed mechanism by which magnetic water treatment could reduce buildup of limescale accounts for all factors or has found wide acceptance in the magnetic water treatment community or elsewhere. Duration of exposure and field strength, gradient, rate of change, and orientation along or perpendicular to flow are variously cited as important to the results. Magnetic water treatment proponent Klaus Kronenberg proposed that the shapes of solute lime molecules are modified by strong magnetic fields, leading them to precipitate as spherical or round crystals rather than deposit as sheets or platelets of hard crystals. John Donaldson, professor of chemistry at Brunel University, proposed that the crucial step is the interruption of agglomeration of particles carrying a surface charge after dissolved contaminants have nucleated as a colloidal suspension. Simon Parsons of the School of Water Sciences at Cranfield University proposed that the magnetic field reduces the surface charge on small particles, increasing the tendency to coagulate as large particles that stay with the flow rather than depositing as scale. Some proponents propose that formation of the softer polymorph aragonite over the more common calcite is favored in the presence of a magnetic field; an internal study in 1996 at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory found no difference in preferred crystal structure of scale deposited in magnetic water treatment systems. More outr claims, including "magnetized" water, breaking of pole symmetry, or vast changes in surface tension or water pH are scientifically nave and untenable.
Studies of effectiveness
Scientific and engineering studies generally refute the effectiveness of the method, finding no differences not attributable to other causes between systems with and without a magnetic water treatment device, and no theoretical basis to expect that there might be. Vendors frequently use pictures and testimonials to support their claims, but omit quantitative detail and well-controlled studies. Advertisements and promotions generally omit such system variables as corrosion coupon results or system mass balance analyticals, as well as measurements of post-treatment water such as concentration of hardness ions or the distribution, structure, and morphology of suspended particles.
Other claimed effects of magnetically treated water
One study has reported a statistically significant reduction in calculus formation on the teeth when exposed to magnetically treated water. The same study reported that reduction in plaque and gingival index was not statistically significant.
See also
Klaus Kronenberg
Magnet therapy
References
^ a b "Hardness in Drinking Water". New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. October 2008. p. 2. http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/factsheets/dwgb/documents/dwgb-3-6.pdf. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
^ a b c Powell, Mike. "Magnetic Water and Fuel Treatment: Myth, Magic, or Mainstream Science?". Skeptical Inquirer. http://www.csicop.org/si/9801/powell.html. Retrieved Oct. 26 2007.
^ a b c Keister, Timothy. "Non Chemical Devices: Thirty Years of Myth Busting". http://www.prochemtech.com/Literature/Technical/ncd.html. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
^ Water Structure and Science by Martin Chaplin
^ GMX, of Chino, California. "Klaus Kronenberg, Ph.D Interview". http://www.gmxinternational.com/facts/interview/05.htm.
^ a b "A problem of scale. (water conditioning)". Entrepreneur. 1996-04-01. http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/18335181.html. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
^ Krauter, PW; JE Harrar, SP Orloff, and SM Bahowick (1996-12). "Test of a Magnetic Device for Amelioration of Scale Formation at Treatment Facility D". internal report of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. http://www.osti.gov/bridge/purl.cover.jsp;jsessionid=5942C197408C8989100BDFBA67344AA8?purl=/567404-bQ4DwB/webviewable/. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
^ Lower, Stephen. "Magnetic water treatment and pseudoscience". Chem1Ware Systems Limited. Archived from the original on 2008-05-01. http://web.archive.org/web/20080501194133/http://www.chem1.com/CQ/magscams.html. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
^ Limpert, GJC; JL Raber (1985-10-01). "Tests of nonchemical scale control devices in a once-through system". Materials Performance 24 (10): 40-45.
^ Watt DL, Rosenfelder C, Sutton CD. "The effect of oral irrigation with a magnetic water treatment device on plaque and calculus" J Clin Periodontol 20(5), 1993 May, pp314-7. PMID 8501270
^ water oral irrigator (Hydro Floss) on plaque, calculus and gingival health" J Clin Periodontol 25(4), 1998 Apr, pp316-21. PMID 9565283
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