Magnetism and its Effect on Mineral Scale and Biofouling
Magnetism has been used for over 150 years in scale prevention in wells and early plumbing systems, the first patent being issued in 1873. The first definitive study of magnetism and its effect on organisms was completed in 1892, with an explosion of interest after the discovery of magnetic reasoning imaging (MRI) in the early 1970s.1 Since then, dozens of research papers and tests have proven the efficacy of magnetism on water and its ability to reduce or eliminate mineral scale or biofouling in plumbing systems and water-affected equipment.
Background
The oxygen-hydrogen (O–H) bonds in water make it a polar molecule in which one end of the molecule is slightly positive while the other is somewhat negative. While there is no net charge to a water molecule, the polarity of water creates a slightly positive charge on hydrogen and a slightly negative charge on oxygen. This property causes water molecules to be weakly attracted to other water molecules (positive to negative, negative to positive) and results in the cohesion of water to itself. This polarity contributes to water's attraction properties, such as water droplets on a flat piece of glass, forming droplets, and beading up—these attractive properties cause large groupings of water clusters of 12-14 molecules or larger that attract minerals.2 A magnetized field (MF) restructures grouped water clusters into smaller hexagonal-shaped molecules or organized clusters, improving the water's mineral solubility. The increased solubility allows individual minerals such as calcium carbonate (predominantly calcite and aragonite) to bond with the smaller groups, remain suspended in the water, and not attach to plumbing or equipment surfaces, thus reducing scale buildup.
Magnetically charged water also affects biofouling. Restructuring water molecules (reduced electronegativity or tendency of an atom to attract electrons) creates an attractive effect on bacterial cells since electrostatic attraction (mutual attraction between atoms) exists between negatively charged bacterial cells and positively charged magnetic water. Also, an MF changes the permeability of the cell membranes allowing easier access of water molecules into the cell structure.3 The attractive properties develop a layer of water around the cell. At the same time, its increased permeability allows excessive moisture to enter the cells creating an imbalance and extreme osmotic forces or pressure on the cell wall, rupturing and killing it.
MF Effects on Scale or Calcium Carbonate in Plumbing Systems or Equipment
Scale or calcium carbonate (CaCO3) comes in two predominant forms, calcite and aragonite. Calcite is more cohesive, while aragonite is more adhesive, affecting its ability to crystalize on plumbing and equipment surfaces. Each can form in plumbing systems from mineral saturation due to several factors such as water temperature, Ph, flow, and mineralization levels or hardness. The cohesive properties of carbonate easily adhere to the walls of pipelines and heating equipment. This results from lower surface energy of nuclei on the wall or higher over-saturation degrees at the wall, at which water is heated (plumbing systems) or used as a coolant (heat exchangers). Evidence shows that a magnetic field (MF) applied to water can influence nucleation and crystal growth of scale or calcium carbonate or its precipitation ratio of calcite to aragonite. Several studies show that calcite is responsible for hard scales because it forms rhombohedral crystals, which are highly adhesive. In contrast, needlelike aragonite crystals are the main factor for creating softer, porous, more soluble deposits, allowing MF-treated water to soften and eventually remove scale buildup.45
MF Effects on Biofouling
Biofouling, or biological fouling, is the accumulation of microorganisms, plants, and algae on wet surfaces such as plumbing and water coolant equipment that have a mechanical function, causing structural or other functional deficiencies. These microorganisms can produce a biofilm or a layer of bacteria or other microbes that grows on and sticks to the surface of pipes or equipment. Removing biofilm can be difficult due to a protective extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) that forms around the bacterial colony.6 Studies have shown that this EPS layer can resist biocides and flushing methods in complex water systems. Biofilms formed in water systems can consume disinfectant and increase bacterial resistance to disinfection. This results in bacterial regrowth leading to color, turbidity, odor, corrosion problems, higher pathogen concentrations, and outbreaks of water-borne diseases.7
Several studies have shown that bacterial network analysis results indicate that MFs were detrimental to the co-existence among bacterial species, destroying the connectivity and complexity of their networks and inhibiting biofilm formation.8 These studies concluded that water treated with an MF decreased total biomass and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) content. EMF treatment could also decrease the deposition of mineral precipitates, reducing the carbonate and silicate content in biofilm used as a nutrient. The decrease in EPS content appeared to reduce biofilm-induced mineral crystallization, while the ion precipitations or insoluble mineral compounds accelerated by EMFs caused an erosive effect on biofilm.9
The results demonstrated that EMF treatment is a practical, chemical-free, and anti-biofouling method with great potential for biofouling control in water distribution systems. EMF treatment has been assessed on controlling microbial cells, and the results implied that EMFs may affect the growth rate, viability, adhesion, and metabolic activity of microorganisms. 10 Other studies indicated that ionic precipitations induced by EMFs could decrease the binding ability of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and, thus, reduce biofilm formation.11 The network size became smaller with MFs, indicating that the MFs reduced the biofilm networks' connectivity and complexity.1213
Applying MFs can induce a voltage difference across the bacterial membrane or electroporation, causing them to attract water, forming a layer around them. Suppose the voltage exceeds the threshold for electroporation or the increase in cell membrane permeability through externally applied pulsed electric fields, in this case, an MF (generally assumed to be about 1 V). In that case, the transmembrane pores are opened, leading to osmotic pressure, which arises due to the osmotic flow of water driven by the differing amounts of solutes between the water outside and inside, increasing osmotic forces, or excessive osmosis, forcing the water into the cells, rupturing the membrane, and destroying it.14 Therefore, it can be inferred that EMF treatment could disrupt the stability of the community networks and the symbiotic relationships of bacteria, affecting the content of bacterial cells and EPS and reducing biofilm formation.15
Scale and Biofouling are Synonymous
Scale and biofouling are synonymous terms when it comes to water systems. Biofilm promotes scale development, and minerals are nutrients. Biofilm needs an uneven surface to form and colonize a water system. Mineral scale deposits in plumbing system surfaces create rough edges, allowing bacteria to take hold and colonize and form biofilm. In contrast, biofilm develops scale within its cellular structure to be used as nutrients. Left unattended, each will support the other, so getting rid of one does not guarantee to remove the other. Few water management plans incorporate a method to handle both; however, Trinity’s water conditioning system does through its patented charged polarity source. Studies revealed structured mineralized areas within biofilms containing pathogens or the cells attracting the minerals and promoting scale within the cells (refer to Fig. 1).16
Fig. 1 Cellular picture of calcium carbonate production promotes the formation of Mycobacterium abscessus biofilms.
Calcium and magnesium ions, which affect the control of various cellular processes, affect biofilm development regarding cell attachment and biofilm structure development.17 The roles in regulating bacterial cell attachment and biofilm formation lie in cation (positively charged mineral ions) concentration. Cations are formed when an atom loses one or more electrons: losing the negatively charged electron(s) results in an overall positive charge. The positive charge of minerals such as calcium and magnesium are attracted to the negatively charged bacterial cells encouraging the development of scale within the cellular structure.18 Furthermore, calcium chelation (calcium buffer) inhibited complex bacterial structures or biofilm buildup, meaning that removing their nutrient source, such as calcium, inhibited their growth.19
Therefore, cell growth is influenced by calcium and magnesium. At a cellular level, biofilm- associated proteins are subject to structural modification in response to calcium (nutrient) and, in return, affect biofilm structure (growth).20 To put it in simpler terms, minerals feed biofilm. Where you see biofilm, you will see scale; where there is scale, you will find biofilm.
Regarding scale and its catalyst for biofilm, studies have found a relationship between the two. The fractured and uneven nature of those layers of scale lining your water pipes creates excellent opportunities for bacteria and biofilm to start building up in crevices in the scale coatings, and the water supply may not flush that out as it flows through the pipes. 21 This is excellent news for biofilm, Legionella bacteria, and other pathogens, but not for users.
The Trinity water conditioner or charged polarity source affects the biofilm by destroying the cells through osmotic water pressure and scale by improving the water's solubility, changing it from a hard calcite crystal to softer aragonite, and removing it from surfaces. The Trinity water conditioning system is the only capability to reduce or dismiss both problems in complex water systems.
Water Management Efforts
If written or practiced, most water management plans contain several remedial efforts to inhibit scale or eliminate biofouling. Standard methods include chemical treatments, wasteful flushing of water systems, expensive replumbing, water softeners, or raising water temperatures to kill bacteria. However, biofilm is highly resistant to biocides (chlorine, hypochlorite, or chloramines) and hot water treatment and can form without minerals, and once they start, it is tough to remove.
The Solution
The Trinity water conditioner or charged polarity source affects the biofilm by destroying the cells through osmotic water pressure and scale by improving the water's solubility, changing it from a hard calcite crystal to softer aragonite, and removing it from surfaces. The Trinity water conditioning system is the only capability to reduce or dismiss both problems in complex water systems.
Conclusion
Magnetics used in reducing scale and biofouling have existed for hundreds of years. Dozens of studies for and against its effect in the commercial sector have been written. Pseudoscience is often used to label its ability to remove or reduce scale and biofouling in commercial applications. However, many naysayers’ studies or tests either improperly configure, charge, or apply magnetics to optimize the effect on minerals or bacteria. The difference between success and failure is not understanding how best to configure the devices, water flow rate and volume, where and how to place them, or even ensure the proper axial exposure to the magnetic flux fields.
Trinity’s second-generation conditioners (charge polarity sources) and experts have solved these issues with a patented configuration, manufacturing process, and unique IP, making our product the most effective in the industry and superior to competitors.
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8309177/
2 https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-biology/chemistry-of-life/structure-of-water-and-hydrogenbonding/a/hydrogen-bonding-in-water
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