Investigation of the effects of electromagnetic field treatment of hot spring water for scale inhibition using a fibre optic sensor

Treatment with an electromagnetic field, one of the potential techniques to inhibit scale deposition from water, has the advantage of not requiring the addition of any chemicals. Field tests using a fibre optic sensor were conducted to evaluate the effect that the treatment of hot spring water in Matsushiro, Japan with an electromagnetic field had on calcium carbonate scale formation. The optical response to scale deposition recorded by the fibre optic sensor decreased as a consequence of the application of an electromagnetic field, and the effectiveness of scale formation inhibition depended on the frequency of the electromagnetic field. This evidence was compared with results from changes in scale mass measured using the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) method. Mass increases of the scale formed on the quartz crystal surface in hot spring water were inhibited by electromagnetic field treatment. These results were verified performing a column flow test, whereby the flow rate of hot spring water through a column was measured.