An investigation of decalcification by radio-frequency irradiation

The possibility of using an ordinary nephelometer to measure and study the effect of low energy electromagnetic radiation on the crystallization and dissolution of calcium carbonate was investigated.

A laboratory simulation of an alleged industrial technique for decalcification of cooling water by utilizing electromagnetic radiation was constructed. A laboratory nephelometer manufactured by Hach Company, model 2100A, for measuring water turbidity, was used to measure changes in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) while varying the irradiation time of calcium carbonate suspensions.

Sets of numerous experiments were performed in order to see what variations of NTU values occurred with no electromagnetic irradiation. Each set of experiments was then repeated under the same conditions with irradiation.

By analyzing the data obtained in the above experiments, the influence of electromagnetic radiation, if any, on calcium carbonate suspension could not be determined.

What has been determined is that the irradiation of calcium carbonate suspension by the low energy electromagnetic radiation does not change any colloidal properties which this type of nephelometer can measure.