Electromagnetic Treatment to Improve Water Clarity: The Effect of Treatment on Water Viscosity and Isoelectric Point of Colloidal Clay Particles

This study explored effects of a device that uses a low power electromagnetic field (EMF), which has previously coincided with improved water clarity in field applications. Colloidal suspensions were exposed to EM treatment to study settling of particulate matter, where effects of EMF on isoelectric point of colloidal suspensions and viscosity of water were assessed. Results indicated that the isoelectric point occurred at lower pH with treatment (decrease by 0.29 pH units), and that viscosity may also be reduced with EM treatment. Thus, particle surface charge was decreased. These results may be attributed to alterations in interactions between water molecules and substrata in a way that suggests that EMF may disrupt H-bonding between molecules, but further tests did not show treatment effect on colloidal particle settling at neutral pH. However, at the isoelectric point for reference conditions, clays remained in suspension longer with EMF treatment, settling rapidly in its absence.