Evaluating Zeta Potential and the Calcite/Aragonite Ratio as Potential Success Indicators for Magnetic Water Treatment

摘要

The potential benefits of anti-scale magnetic treatment (AMT) are not realized or reliably predicted because the factors measuring performance of magnetic treatment have either not been identified or are poorly defined. This report focuses on examination of certain measurable outcomes influencing the impact of AMT using magnetic treatment devices (MTDs). The outcomes analyzed in this research were: zeta potential of aqueous samples, relative proportion of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) crystal phase and iron content present in solid residue removed from the operating system. The results presented here build on previous research that examined the impact of numerous system operating parameters and four measurable outcomes. The zeta potential was measured at the start and end of each system test. It was believed that a decrease in this measure would indicate decreased charged particle repulsion, increasing potential for particle coagulation. It was supposed this might favor the transport of CaCO3 particles through the system rather than fostering scale formation on pipe walls. The data showed that the zeta potential increased from start to end of tests whether MTDs were installed or not. Many other factors, including chemistry, presence of contaminants, sample preparation and evaluation methodology can impact the measured quantities of calcite and aragonite in CaCO3. It was concluded that this approach is not a good measure of whether AMT works successfully or not.