THE INFLUENCE OF MAGNETIC-FIELDS ON CALCIUM-CARBONATE PRECIPITATION

Laboratory experiments were undertaken to assess the effects of magnet ic treatment on calcium carbonate precipitate. Static test solutions o f calcium chloride, calcium sulphate and sodium carbonate were placed in a magnetic field. After magnetic treatment the solutions CaCl2/Na2C O3 and CaSO4/Na2CO3 were mixed and changes in precipitation recorded a nd compared with non-magnetised solutions. The results of this study s upport earlier work which indicates that magnetic fields may influence the formation of CaCO3 by the suppression of nucleation and accelerat ion in crystal growth. The ''magnetic effect'' is maintained for at le ast 60 h after exposure, and magnetic exposure exerts a greater effect on Na2CO3 than CaCl2. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reser ved.