Magnetic water treatment
Magnetic water treatment (also known as anti-scale magnetic treatment or AMT) is a method of supposedly reducing the effects of hard water by passing it through a magnetic field as a non-chemical alternative to water softening. Magnetic water treatment is regarded as unproven and unscientific. A 1996 study by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory found no significant effect of magnetic water treatment on the formation of scale.[1]
Magnetic water treatment has a controversial history regarding its anti-scaling effectiveness in water systems although it has reportedly proven effective for numerous industrial applicationsaccording to this roundup article from nature.com. It has been demonstrated that it can protect the hot water conducting pipes from scale completely and even dissolve an old scale according to a 2006 study.
Vendors of magnetic water treatment devices frequently use photos and testimonials to support their claims, but omit quantitative detail and well-controlled studies.[2] Advertisements and promotions generally omit system variables, such as corrosion 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.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
See also
References
- ^ Krauter, PW; Harrar, JE; Orloff, SP; Bahowick, SM (1996). "Test of a Magnetic Device for Amelioration of Scale Formation at Treatment Facility D" (PDF). Internal Report. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. doi:10.2172/567404. OSTI 567404. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
- ^ a b Keister, T (2008). "Non Chemical Devices: Thirty Years of Myth Busting" (PDF). Water Conditioning & Purification. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
- ^ Powell, MR (1998). "Magnetic Water and Fuel Treatment: Myth, Magic, or Mainstream Science?". Skeptical Inquirer. 22 (1). Archived from the original on 27 July 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2007.
- ^ Lower, S. "Magnetic water treatment and pseudoscience". Chem1Ware Systems Limited. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
- ^ Limpert, GJC; Raber, JL (1985). "Tests of nonchemical scale control devices in a once-through system". Materials Performance. 24 (10): 40–45. OSTI 6089699.
- ^ Smothers, KW; Curtiss, CD; Gard, BT; Strauss, RH; Hock, VF (15 June 2001). "Magnetic Water Treatment" (PDF). Public Works Technical Bulletin 420-49-34. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2011.
- ^ Coey, J.M.D; Cass, Stephen (2000). "Magnetic Water Treatment". Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials. 209 (1–3): 71–74. Bibcode:2000JMMM..209...71C. doi:10.1016/S0304-8853(99)00648-4. Retrieved 23 August 2023.