Abstract
In this paper, experimental results on the effect of magnetic field on the precipitation process of calcium carbonate scale from hard water are reported. Permanent magnets with different magnetic flux densities are used for investigating the effect of magnetic field on induction time, electrical conductivity, total alkalinity, and turbidity of water sample. The magnetic flux density range of test equipment is 0.03–3.4 T. The induction time is found to be reduced after magnetic treatment. In other words, the existence of magnetic field increases the nucleation rate of calcium carbonate. The effect of water velocity on induction time is not pronounced. Magnetic field inhibits the reduction of electrical conductivity. The magnetic field inhibits reduction of bicarbonate content and the formation of calcium carbonate precipitation. Turbidity removal efficiency is increased from 60% without magnetic treatment to reach a maximum of 99.48% at magnetic flux density of 0.7 T. In the absence of magnetic field, this ratio was only 18.19% at 1.5 h and its maximum value was 39.14%. There is an optimal water velocity of 1.2 m/s and magnetic flux density of 0.7 T.
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful for financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51304101).