Magnetic fields induce exclusion zones in water

PLoS One. 2022 May 27;17(5):e0268747. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0268747. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Hydrophilic materials immersed in aqueous solutions show near-surface zones that exclude suspended colloids and dissolved molecules. These exclusion zones (EZs) can extend for tens to hundreds of micrometers from hydrophilic surfaces and show physicochemical properties that differ from bulk water. Here we report that exposure of standard aqueous microsphere suspensions to static magnetic fields creates similar microsphere-free zones adjacent to magnetic poles. The EZs build next to both north and south poles; and they build whether the microspheres are of polystyrene or carboxylate composition. EZ formation is accompanied by ordered motions of microspheres, creating dense zones some distance from the magnetic poles and leaving microsphere-free zones adjacent to the magnet. EZ size was larger next to the north pole than the south pole. The difference was statistically significant when polystyrene microspheres were used, although not when carboxylate microspheres were used. In many ways, including both size and dynamics, these exclusion zones resemble those found earlier next to various hydrophilic surfaces. The ability to create EZs represents a feature of magnets not previously revealed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Microspheres
  • Polystyrenes*
  • Water* / chemistry

Substances

  • Polystyrenes
  • Water

Grants and funding

This research work was supported by the SAGST Foundation, Award Number CS-P12665, Germany, and an anonymous donation. The URL of the company is https://www.sagst.de/en/who-we-are/founder-foundation. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.