Findings & Results as of 2019

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1. Introduction

Two questions present ever since GRANDER® water revitalization was discovered have recently been gaining attention: how does GRANDER® water revitalization work, and what is the scientific explanation for the witnessed effects?

Daily use and numerous positive testimonials documented empirically spoke a clear language decades before a scientific explanation was found.

Thanks to newly established branches of research, among them applied water physics (1) and improved water analysis procedures (2), the fundamental mechanisms as well as individual factors of GRANDER® water revitalization are today comprehensively understood, verified, and replicable in the laboratory.

Applied water physics

Applied water physics is the scientific branch dealing with the fundamental properties of water, among them its interaction with electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields, and the impacts of these interdependencies on living organisms such as bacteria.

A wealth of research has explored the effects of the magnetic or electromagnetic treatment of water in the past 40 years, as is witnessed in more than a hundred papers and reports on this topic (example: extract (10–29)).

For many years, the scientific community was very doubtful concerning the proposition that magnetic fields influence hard water and thus the structure and morphology of the crystallization of calcium carbonate. This was mainly due to the fact that no plausible mechanism was known that could explain the persisting effect of magnetic fields even after the exposition.

For this reason, the application of this principle was controversial, not only with regard to GRANDER® water revitalization.

WETSUS – European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology

An interdisciplinary research cooperation encompassing several European universities and research institutions (3) realized in the framework of WETSUS – European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, produced a breakthrough in the understanding of magnetic water treatment (MWT) based on principles of water physics. (4)

Summary of research findings:

The research findings of Dr. Elmar Fuchs (5) and his team/WETSUS (6), see ‘Strong Gradients in Weak Magnetic Fields Induce DOLLOP Formation in Tap Water,’ were verified in a peer-review process. (7)

In 2012, Coey proposed a theory explaining the mechanism of magnetic water treatment based on the gradient of the field used instead of its absolute force.

Recent findings of the ‘Applied Water Physics’ research group at WETSUS (Martina Sammer, Cees Kamp, Astrid H. Paulitsch-Fuchs, Adam D. Wexler, Cees J.N. Buisman, and Elmar C. Fuchs) build on the discovery that calcium carbonate nanoparticles (‘DOLLOPs’) contained in tap water reorganize themselves under certain conditions (which are, inter alia, caused by the magnetic gradient) and in this process change the environmental factors for dissolved substances (such as lime). (8)

The study shows an increase of nm-sized pre-nucleation clusters (dynamically ordered liquid-like oxyanion polymers or ‘DOLLOPs’) caused by the exposition to a magnetic field. This effect is in line with Coey’s theory, showing that it is also applicable to very weak magnetic fields provided strong gradients are contained.

2. Novel water analysis procedures

Advanced research methods open up new opportunities in modern water analysis. This applies to trace analysis, which is used to determine the concentration of materials or substances (pg/l), as well as to microbiological testing, for instance for detecting the number of bacteria in water within one hour.

Conservative methods take 72 hours to establish the total bacterial count in potable water. What is more, only approx. 1% of the existing bacteria can be made visible while the remaining 99% stay obscured.

Flow cytometry

Flow cytometry takes stock of 99% of the bacteria in the water and can even distinguish between living and dead cells. Time required: 1 hour

In flow cytometry, individual cells flowing past an electric-voltage or light source (laser beams in most setups) at high speed are analyzed. Depending on the cells’ shape, structure, and color, various effects are produced, from which the properties of individual cells can be deduced.

Illustration example – Lake Achen:
Surface area: 6.8 km², volume: 0.481 km³

If a single sugar cube were dissolved in Lake Achen, this highly developed measuring technology would be able to detect the sugar.

3. Scientific papers

A recently published peer-reviewed scientific paper presents evidence for the difference between regular and revitalized water. (7)

‘Strong Gradients in Weak Magnetic Fields Induce DOLLOP Formation in Tap Water’

Martina Sammer 1, Cees Kamp 2, Astrid H. Paulitsch-Fuchs 1, Adam D. Wexler 1, Cees J. N. Buisman 1 and Elmar C. Fuchs 1*,

1 Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands; martina.sammer@wetsus.nl (M.S.); astrid.paulitsch-fuchs@wetsus.nl (A.H.P.-F.); adam.wexler@wetsus.nl (A.D.W.); cees.buisman@wetsus.nl (C.J.N.B.)

2 Kamp Consult, Deventerweg 81, 7203 AD Zutphen, The Netherlands; ceeskamp@xs4all.nl
*Correspondence: elmar.fuchs@wetsus.nl; Tel.: +31-58-284-3162

Academic editor: Wilhelm Püttmann
Received: 21 January 2016; accepted: 23 February 2016; published: 3 March 2016

Results:

1. Revitalization changes the alternating current resistance (impedance) in water
2. Revitalization fosters an increased formation of lime nanoparticles (so-called DOLLOPs) in water

These phenomena could be observed using three independent research methods.

a) Impedance spectroscopy

An AC current is generated in a measuring cell filled with the water to be tested. In doing so, the AC current’s frequency is modified, and the electrical AC resistance (impedance) and the phase shift of the sample are established.

Varying with frequency, significant differences between samples of regular water (8) and water revitalized with GRANDER® could be observed:

Note: the proposed DOLLOP formation was tested in at least 16 independent experiments. 12 measurements per experiment, each encompassing complex impedance at 65 frequencies, measurement of two parameters (phase and impedance) per frequency. (8)

b) Laser scattering

The number of calcium carbonate nanoparticles (DOLLOPs) was measured using flow cytometry. (8)

c) Scanning electron microscopy

Following a revitalization of the water with GRANDER®, DOLLOP formation was increased. DOLLOPs can act as crystal nuclei, and, as such, influence lime deposit behavior. (8)(9)

4. Interpretation of results with regard to GRANDER® effects

a) Change in deposit behavior

Fewer DOLLOPs without revitalization
Dissolved lime crystallizes on pipe walls, gradually constricting the pipes (9)

A crystallization of dissolved lime on pipe walls produces detrimental effects such as a constriction of pipes and an increase in flow resistance. Moreover, a rougher surface due to lime deposits is good breeding ground for harmful bacteria and biofilms.

Many DOLLOPs with revitalization
Dissolved lime already crystallizes in the water due to DOLLOPs and is flushed out (9)

In water with a high concentration of DOLLOPs, crystallization starts already in the water and hardly affects pipe walls. As a result, crystals are not deposited on the pipes but are flushed out with the water stream. (8)

b) Improved self-cleaning properties

The water’s background flora (autochthonous bacteria) works like an immune system. It protects the water from harmful bacteria in a natural way by consuming nutrients due to its activities, depriving unwanted bacteria of their sustenance.

This process is a fierce competition in which usually only ‘healthy’ flora prevails.

Please note that if the system is infiltrated with an excess amount of pollutants, GRANDER® should be combined with conventional water treatment methods to produce the desired effects.

What are the results of increased self-cleaning properties?

• Water can be stored for longer
• Reduced risk of bacterial growth
• Increased microbiological stability
• Increased resilience of water

Using flow cytometry, it could be shown that GRANDER® water revitalization supports the water’s background flora and thus its resilience.

5. Benefits of GRANDER® effects

Example: likelihood of deposit formation

Fig. 1: Likelihood of deposits

Water can dissolve lime. In this process, the pH value and the temperature are important parameters. The mineral saturation state is another factor determining the amount of lime in solution and the threshold value from which it starts to crystallize.

In revitalized water, deposits start to form from a higher water hardness threshold value compared to regular water. For very hard water and unfavorable conditions, a combination with conventional water treatment methods (ion exchanger) is recommended in order to prevent lime deposits.

Effects of water revitalization regarding deposits

• Revitalized water tolerates a higher degree of water hardness without deposit formation
• Combined use with an ion exchanger allows for an upward adjustment of residual hardness
• Reduces expenses for chemicals, electricity, and maintenance
• Improved taste

Example: microbiological stability:

Fig. 11: Example: microbiological stability

Bacteria need nutrients and a certain environment to exist and multiply in the water.

In revitalized water, the natural background flora is more active, using up more nutrients and creating a bulwark against unwanted bacteria.

For systems frequently contaminated with large amounts of pollutants, a combination with conventional treatment methods is recommended.

Effects of water revitalization regarding microbiological stability

• Higher microbiological stability
• Revitalized water remains stable also at higher nutrient concentration
• Reduces expenses for chemicals, electricity, and maintenance (9)

Thanks to advances in modern measuring technologies, we are starting to get a glimpse of what is happening in water revitalization! Johann Grander was decades ahead of us in understanding these phenomena.

Visions for a sustainable future

Using the natural strengths
of revitalized water is an
important step towards
sustainability and health.

The stronger and unadulterated water is,
the less treatment it needs.
This saves resources, protects nature,
and also saves a penny.

Our philosophy is to
strengthen the positive forces of water,
helping it maintain a natural balance.

Sources:

(1) Link: https://www.wetsus.nl/research/research-themes/applied-water-physics
(2) Link: http://www.grander-water.com/grander/water-research-us/research-concept/basic-research-and-other-external-research/methods-of-measurement-in-water-analysis
(3) List of universities: https://www.wetsus.nl/research/research-institutes
(4) Coey, J. M. D. (2012). Magnetic water treatment – how might it work? Philosophical Magazine, 92(31), 3857–3865.
(5) Homepage Dr. Elmar C. Fuchs - http://ecfuchs.com/
(6) WETSUS – Applied Water Physics - https://www.wetsus.nl/research/research-themes/applied-water-physics
(7) https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/8/3/79/pdf
(8) Strong Gradients in Weak Magnetic Fields Induce DOLLOP Formation in Tap Water
Cees J. N. Buisman and Elmar C. Fuchs , Martina Sammer , Cees Kamp , Astrid H. Paulitsch-Fuchs , Adam D. Wexler
Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, MA Leeuwarden
Received: 21 January 2016; accepted: 23 February 2016; published: 3 March 2016
(9) IPF GmbH
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