Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques  
2020, Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages: 1416-1419  
J. Environ. Treat. Tech.  
ISSN: 2309-1185  
Journal web link: http://www.jett.dormaj.com  
https://doi.org/10.47277/JETT/8(4)1419  
Evaluation of Utilizing the Magnetic Techniques to  
Treat the Sulfuric Water Resources in Nineveh  
Governrate / Iraq  
Ayham Taha Al-Rawi*  
Northern Technical University / Technical Institute in Mosul  
Received: 12/05/2020  
Accepted: 05/08/2020  
Published: 20/09/2020  
Abstract  
The sulfuric water in Iraq is considered one of the polluted water resources due to their high sulfur contents which reach about (1000  
ppm) in Iraqi sulfur springs which consider more than the permitted rate in the global scale limiting (200-400 ppm). So, this study was  
conducted to treat the water of the sulfur springs by using magnetic techniques, through the identification of the physical and chemical  
traits before and after treatment as well as determining the validity of these types of water for different uses. The Mosul city contains  
several sulfur water springs which located in (A) Mosul dam area, (B) area of Ein Kebriet in the center of Mosul, and (C) area of the  
Hammam-Alalil, where the sulfur water causes contamination of the surface water due to flowing towards the Tigris River. So, magnetic  
techniques were applied; where the sulfur water was passed for a period of (15 and 30 minutes), through a closed mgnetic circuit of a  
device which generates a magnetic field of (1000 Gauss). We found, that after the treatment by the magnetic techniques the physical  
characteristics changed when the yellow sulfur color disappeared and converted to the transparent color. Also, the sulfuric odor  
disappeared while the chemical properties such as the pH values found its change; in the site (A) from 6 to 7.1, in the site (B) from 6.5  
to 7.4 and in the site (C) from 9 to 8.4. Moreover, electric conductivity (EC) decreased; in site (A) from 1721 ppm to 17 ppm, in the site  
(
B) from 1414 ppm to 15 ppm and in the site (C) from 871 ppm to (9) while the total dissolved solids (TDS) values increased in the  
3 3 3 3 3  
site (A) from 3.5×10 ppm to 3.8×10 ppm, in the site (B) from 2.8×10 ppm to 3.1×10 ppm and in the site (C) from 1.7×10 ppm to  
1
3
.8×10 ppm. Due to the efficiency of treatment by increasing the solubility of water contents, and decreased the sulfate values (SO ) in  
4
site (A) from 1392 ppm to 144, in site (B) from 945 ppm to 95 ppm and in site (C) from 247 to 26, due to their conversion to hydrogen  
sulfide gas and their volatilization in the atmosphere, which is caused by a fault odor in the laboratory. Thus, the flowing of the treated  
water to the river contributes in the enrichment of surface water, also possible for its investment in agricultural irrigation.  
Keywords: Magnetic techniques, Sulfuric water, Nineveh governorate, Iraq  
Introduction1  
and semi-arid areas such as Iraq, poses a major threat to all  
1
aspects of development where water resources suffer from  
many changes in physical and chemical properties which  
caused by water pollution. Since the majority of industrial  
constructions and hospitals are built on the banks of rivers. So,  
the flow of industrial, health and agricultural wastewater to  
river basins and the absence of partial or total treatment units  
as well as the loss of optimal and efficient use of water in  
agriculture (the most water-consuming sector of up to 80%),  
The water resources are an environmental components of  
the biosphere, interacting with life and economic - social  
development, where achieving water security means achieving  
food security. Iraq is located in the semi-arid regions; water  
resources in Iraq have faced many threats and a lot of damages,  
especially from neighboring countries such as; Iran, Turkey and  
Syria, by establishing dams on the sources of rivers. Besides  
the drought of the marshes in south of Iraq which constitutes  
half of the water bodies. The issue of water scarcity and  
pollution in Iraq is one of the most important environmental  
issues because of its close association with human, agriculture  
and biodiversity. The problem of water scarcity and poor  
quality has emerged as a result of population growth, climate  
change, increasing of human activity, non-rationalization of  
water consumption and technological progress which caused  
pollution & depletion of water resources. That leads us to say  
that, the desalinated water and treated water are growing water  
resources with the time and with the meet of increasing  
population growth and human progress, unlike traditional water  
resources that are often limited and prone to depletion and  
pollution. The increase in demand for water, especially in arid  
which requires techniques of  
rationalization of water  
consumption using sprinkler and drip irrigation systems. The  
treatments of sulfur water, as well as the recycling of domestic  
and industrial wastewater and its use in agriculture, reducing  
the burden on the freshwater resources. Sulfur water contains  
solids, soluble gases and suspended materials, where the  
quality of these components depend on biological and  
environmental factors, which are subject to changes resulting  
from the interaction of water with its environment directly. The  
classification and evaluation of sulfuric water depend on  
concentrations of the chemical components on which this water  
is classified, such as sulfuric content, salinity, pH and  
alkalinity. And the treatment of sulfur water has become an  
Corresponding author: Ayham Taha Al-Rawi, Northern Technical University / Technical Institute in Mosul. E-mail:  
atalrawi@ntu.edu.iq  
1
416  
Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques  
2020, Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages: 1416-1419  
important need to raise the productivity and development of  
water resources in Iraq [1, 2]. This water contains a high  
polluted water and passing it mechanically through filters to  
mix the water with ozone gas that dissolves the pollutants in the  
water into its components Initial, increasing oxygen levels to  
make them drinkable. In addition to that, the method of  
ultraviolet rays: it is a modern technology that has proven  
effective in eliminating bacteria and polluting organisms in the  
water that are resistant to disinfectant chemicals, as the water  
in the tanks or special stones is exposed to ultraviolet rays  
without contacting it to eliminate the DNA Of each bacterial  
organism, or the water is passed through ultraviolet tubes. Also  
there is Ultrasound method: This technology is called an  
environmentally friendly technology for water purification, as  
it does not leave any harmful side effects to the environment,  
and the water is purified by it by transmitting ultrasound waves  
to the water at high frequencies that exceed the ability of human  
hearing that leads to the killing of large proportions of bacterial  
organisms that pollute the water [15].  
amount of sulfurs (SO  
hydrogen sulfide gas (H  
4
), which is emitted into the air as  
S), which emitted foul-smelling like  
2
rotten eggs [3]. The most important areas where sulfuric water  
is present in several of Nineveh governorate in Iraq as in Mosul  
dam project in North of Nineveh governorate, Ain Kebriet area  
in the old Mosul in the center of Nineveh governorate and  
Hammam Alalil area in South of Nineveh governorate. Water  
comes out very boiling and from different places where it cures  
many diseases such as psoriasis, rheumatism and arthritis, and  
helps to heal wounds that affect the skin [4]. Necessary to  
benefit from sulfur water with high sulfur content and to invest  
its water fully for irrigation use to be addressed and reduce the  
concentration of mineral salts, especially sulfur content within  
the suitable level for the irrigation. Magnetic technology is a  
simple attempt to imitate what happens in nature precisely  
because water when passes through the natural magnetic field  
become more active so that the process of magnetization  
reorganizes water charges and the form of these charges is  
random in normal and contaminated water. The magnetic  
treatment of water doesn't actually magnetize water and this is  
considered a commonly wrong idea. Water is not magnetized;  
it is subjected to a strong magnetic field. However, as with all  
liquids, it possesses the properties of electromagnetic materials,  
when exposed to a magnetic field, water will produce a weak  
magnetic field in the opposite direction, therefore; modified  
water, air-conditioned water or magnetically treated water is  
the correct expression to avoid common mistakes [5]. Currently  
appearance the application of magnetic techniques is used in  
various fields of life such as medicine, agriculture,  
transportation, aviation, space research and many important  
areas such as water desalination and purification [6]. Studies  
about investing sulfuric water after treatment with the use of  
modern technologies is so rare, and the information about the  
use of them for irrigation is not available enough to rely on, so  
the current study was selected to enhance that information. In  
a study of treatment of industrial wastewater for the factories  
of spinning and fabric and tanneries in Nineveh governorate  
before flows in Tigris river basin in the city of Mosul, the  
results showed after the magnetic treatment of samples of water  
How to magnetize water and theories of magnetization:  
water is  
a polymagnetic substance, and it bears the  
paramagnetic properties of 15% due to the presence of positive  
and negative ions dissolved in the water. Diamagnetic materials  
are characterized by complete orbits when exposed to a  
magnetic field, as they are weakly scattered with water  
molecules perpendicular to the lines of magnetic flux.  
Industrial water is treated using devices called (magnetrons)  
which have different magnetic intensities, one of which is  
monopole called (magnetizer) used in the medical field a lot,  
and the dipole (diamagnetic) is used in the industrial field and  
contains the north (-) and south poles (+) The poles are placed  
at a certain angle, facing each other, and the water passes so  
that the water molecules are perpendicular to the magnetic flux  
lines. There are two physical theories that are the most common  
in explaining the phenomenon of magnetization; they are  
Quantum theory and Hydrodynamic theory [16].  
2
Materials and Methods  
This study was made at the Technical Institute / Mosul in  
the department of water resources techniques. Three areas were  
selected from Nineveh governorate which contained sulfuric  
water. The first (A) Mosul dam area, the second (B) Ain  
Kebriet area in center of Mosul, and the third (C) Hammam  
Alalil in southern of Nineveh governorate. Twenty litters of  
sulfuric water from each above area were taken as samples for  
test and stored at 25°C, and then laboratory analysis was  
achieved to determine the characteristics of sulfuric water.  
Sulfuric water analysis was performed for all three types (A, B,  
C) by laboratory tests of physical and chemical properties by  
using the methods of analysis mentioned in [10, 11, 12]. The  
physical properties for all samples of sulfuric water (color and  
smell) were studied as well as chemical properties (pH,  
electrical conductivity (Ec), total dissolved solids (TDS) and  
a
positive impact on treatment water qualities and  
recommended to using that treated water for agrarian irrigation  
7]. It was also found, that the magnetic technology showed the  
[
ability to remove all spores in bacterial count in sewage  
wastewater which have dangerous diseases on human beings,  
and the experimental tests show the ability of different  
magnetic flux densities 500, 1000 & 1500 Gauss to reduce all  
types of bacteria under study with retention time of 10 min. and  
2
0 min. [8]. It was also found that using nanotechnology, palm  
charcoal as cheap stuff, and simple techniques for treating rich  
sulfuric spring water in the Hitt area (Ramadi, west Iraq) on the  
Euphrates River. The results showed high efficiency in the  
disposal of sulfur ions and the improvement of some Physical  
and chemical properties of water after treatment. In this study,  
the efficiency of removing sulphate ion from sulfuric water was  
(
SO  
4
). For (pH, Ec and TDS were measured by (pH, Ec, TDS  
) estimated by means of the gravimetric  
digital meter) and (SO  
4
method. The following describes the equipment and materials  
used, that the Magnetism consists of three magnetic rods (1000  
Gs, 2000 Gs and 3000 Gs  Gs is Gauss) respectively. These  
magnetic rods are connected to a network of metal.tubes that  
are closed and opened by taps so that each pole can be operated  
separately. In order to pass water to the magnetic rod, it is  
placed in a basin then a suitable water pump is placed with  
plastic pipes in a way that allows the water to pass through a  
closed circuit during the duration of this process. The  
experiments were carried out through encoding the samples  
before starting the processing. After taking the samples of the  
sulfuric water from the three areas, the samples were marked  
9
9% [9].  
Recently, many modern methods have appeared for the  
purpose of treatment, including the use of ozone gas: it is a  
highly oxidizing chemical that appeared as an alternative to  
chlorine (that have side effects on human health) where some  
experts linked it to cancer. And ozone gas has proven its great  
ability to purify water If it is used in the correct proportions  
without increasing or decreasing, as the increase in its  
percentage works to chemical reactions with some compounds,  
and the water is purified by it by filling special tanks with  
1
417  
Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques  
2020, Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages: 1416-1419  
with (A) for the area of the Mosul dam project and (B) for the  
area of Ein Kebriet, (C) for Hammam - Alalil area. For physical  
tests (color and smell) and Chemical tests (pH, EC, TDS and  
the ability of magnetic processing to dissolve the saline sulfurs  
molecules and release hydrogen ion into water, where the  
Electric conductivity ( Ec) decreased; in site (A) from (1721  
ppm) to (17 ppm), in site (B) from (1414 ppm) to (15 ppm)  
and in site (C) from (871 ppm) to (9).  
SO  
Industries and Oil Refining Division at the Technical Institute  
Mosul when the implementation of treatment was achieved by  
4
), which were reached at the laboratory of the Chemical  
/
3- Total dissolved solids (TDS): Values increased to (6%-8%)  
when using the magnetic techniques , because process of  
magnetization contributes in the deposition of many substances  
,which total dissolved solid (TDS) values are increased in site  
using the magnetic technique, where the magnetization of  
sulfuric water samples was carried out on two levels of the  
period of time (15 and 30 minutes) by magnetic field (1000 Gu)  
where the water characteristics were measured before and after  
magnetization and figure (1) shows the device of magnetic  
techniques which was used in treating the sulfuric water in all  
regions.  
3
3
(A) from (3.5×10 ppm) to (3.8×10 ppm), in site (B) from  
3
(2.8×10 ppm) to (3.1×10 ppm) and in site (C) from (1.7×10  
3
3
ppm) to (1.8×103 ppm), the matter which led to the efficiency  
of treatment by increasing the solubility of water contents.  
4
- Sulfate ion (SO ): the Sulfate values (SO ) decreased in the  
4 4  
(A) from (1392 ppm) to (144), in the (B) from (945 ppm) to (95  
ppm) and in site (C) from (247) to (26). Sulfate contributes to  
the formation of permanent acidity in water, especially in the  
form of calcium sulphate or magnesium, and is included in  
saline elements. It is clear from the results that the most specific  
qualities of sulfuric water do not meet the international  
standards and is not recommended to be used in normal  
condition only after being treated with the best method of  
environmental protection, both on the level of the biosphere to  
dispose the causes of pollution to add an additional water  
resource for the river beside some secondary uses, and that is  
one way to solve the problem of water depletion and pollution.  
Tables (1) and (2) showed all values decreased except for the  
values of total dissolved solids which increased as a result of  
melting and disintegration of particles.  
Figure 1: Local magnetic device  
3
Results and discussion  
Generally, water resources suffer from depletion and  
Finally, the study showed that it is necessary to make  
sulfuric water treatment by using magnetic technology in order  
to use the treated water in some fields or aspects of life such as  
agricultural irrigation, where the discharge of treated water to  
the river contributes in the enrichment of surface water which  
coincides with the findings of some previous studies which  
assert, that the magnetic field has a clear impact on the values  
of pH , TDS and EC with different flow rates when slower flow  
rates have better effect for water treatment than faster flow  
rates. On the other hand, increasing the time of passing through  
of the water through the PWTD raised the efficiency of  
treatment. Exposing water to a wider area of the magnetic field  
will increase the changes in water properties. The flow rate of  
(0.1) lit/sec with three times of passing (3x) increased pH, EC  
in average by 3.7%, 9.6% respectively [13, 14]. When we  
compare all results of our study with [7], we find that they are  
more identical, where all chemical and physical properties of  
industrial water decreased by using magnetic technology to  
more than 90%. Also if we compare our study with another  
modern technology treatment for sulfuric water, and in  
magnetic technology [8] and nanotechnology as in [9], we  
notice the consistency of the results demonstrated high  
efficiency in removing the sulfur ion and improving some of  
the physical and chemical properties of the water after  
treatment, reached 99% compared to the concentrations before  
treatment. The insufficiently treated of polluted water causes  
into the water the pollution and change the properties of water,  
these changes are expressed in particular in the appearance of  
unpleasant odors, flavors, color change also the changes in the  
Chemical composition of water such as Acidic number (PH),  
Biological Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand,  
turbidity, Sulphate, Phosphates, Nitrates, Nitrite, Chloride. Due  
to for technological development, it is possible minimizing the  
harmful impact of human activities on water resources, the key  
must be treatment of polluted for water.  
pollution. So, it requires achieving sustainable development for  
the water resources by developing contaminated water  
treatment techniques, which the sulfur water is one of its parts.  
Therefore, this study was carried out for the sake of treating the  
sulfuric water in Iraq by the available techniques. Table 1  
shows the values of the quality tests made to the sulfuric water  
samples of the three regions before treatment in order to  
compare them with the results obtained after the treatment  
process by magnetic techniques. Table 2 shows the values of  
the quality tests carried out to the sulfuric water samples of the  
three regions after treatment by using magnetic technology for  
(
15 minutes and 30 minutes) as they are indicated to in Table  
1
.
Regarding the chemical properties when comparing in  
tables (1) and (2), and based on global standards. It was  
concluded through the tests of chemical properties which have  
performed after treatment by magnetic techniques are the  
following where:  
1
- The pH values: tended towards neutralization after treatment  
with the magnetic techniques, that the duration of treatment  
with magnetization (15 and 30 minutes) was sufficient to cause  
the neutralization process, with the exception of water in the  
Hammam- alalil bath (C) that may need a longer period or a  
greater magnetic field strength, where the PH value changed ;  
In site (A) from (6) to (7.1) , in site (B) from (6.5) to (7.4) and  
in site (C) from (9) to (8.4)., due to their conversion to hydrogen  
sulfide gas and their volatilization in the atmosphere, which  
caused a fault odor in the laboratory . Thus, the flowing of  
treated water to the river contributes in the enrichment of  
surface water, and the treatment of sulfuric water by magnetic  
techniques in order to use it in agricultural irrigation.  
2
(
- Electrical conductivity (EC): showed decrease in values to  
99%) through comparing tables (1) and (2); this indicates that  
1
418  
Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques  
2020, Volume 8, Issue 4, Pages: 1416-1419  
4
Table 1: Results of quality tests before treatment (EC, TDS and SO in ppm)  
Sample  
Chemical tests  
TDS  
Physical tests  
pH  
EC  
SO  
4
Color  
Smell  
3
A
B
C
Transparent yellow  
Transparent yellow  
Transparent yellow  
Chemical  
Chemical  
Chemical  
6.00  
6.50  
9.00  
1721  
1414  
871  
3.5×10  
2.8×10  
1.7×10  
1392.00  
945.00  
247.00  
3
3
Table 2: Results of quality tests after treatment (Magnetic technology) (EC, TDS and SO  
4
in ppm)  
Sample  
Chemical tests  
TDS  
Physical tests  
pH  
-
7.20  
7.10  
7.50  
EC  
SO  
4
Color  
Smell  
3
AM-15  
AM-30  
BM-15  
Transparent  
Transparent  
Transparent  
Very acceptable  
Very acceptable  
Very acceptable  
17.00  
16.90  
15.00  
3.7×10  
3.8×10  
144.00  
141.00  
101.00  
3
3
3.0×10  
Transparent  
Transparent  
Transparent  
Very acceptable  
Very acceptable  
Very acceptable  
7.40  
8.70  
8.40  
15.80  
9.00  
9.08  
3.1×103  
1.8×103  
1.8×103  
95.00  
33.00  
26.00  
BM-30  
CM-15  
CM-30  
For achievement of sustainable water development, the  
main object of sewage treatment process is to remove the  
various constituents of the polluting materials such as solids,  
organic carbon, nutrients, inorganic salts, metals, pathogens  
etc. The study [17], offered some apparatus that provides the  
process of polluted water treatment techniques such as;  
Suspension centrifuge, Horizontal centrifuge with pulsating  
piston, Centrifuge with inertial discharge of sediment, Drum  
vacuum filter, Disc Vacuum Filter, Carousel and suction filter,  
Belt filter and Centrifugal filter. These apparatus decrease all  
polluted water properties as in our study, but our technology is  
simple and more sufficient more economic.  
5. Almosuli M. Magnetized water. Dar Alyazouri scientific  
publishing and distribution, Amman, Jordan. 2013;1(1).  
6
.
Alfeeli, B , Ma ’ moun A, Ali B, Haider A, Mohamed A , Zouhair  
M. A review of nanotechnology development in the Arab World.  
2013;2(3):359377.  
7
.
Ayham T. The use of magnetic technology in the treatment of  
industrial waste water from spinning & weaving and tanning  
factories in Nineveh to benefit from them in agriculture and  
irrigation. Agricultural Journal, University of Tikrit, Iraq.  
2
011;10(2):138-142.  
9
1
.
Zedan T, Emad A, Mohammed S, Mohammed W. Development of  
an economical way to remove sulfur in sulfuric water using  
activated charcoal from palm kernel. Pure sciences Journal,  
University of Alanbar, Iraq. 2012;6(3):34-48.  
Ethical issue  
Authors are aware of, and comply with, best practice in  
publication ethics specifically with regard to authorship  
(avoidance of guest authorship), dual submission, manipulation  
0. Jabro A, Amul M. Health chemistry. Foundation of Technical  
Institutes, Ministry of higher education and scientific. 1993.  
of figures, competing interests and compliance with policies on  
research ethics. Authors adhere to publication requirements  
that submitted work is original and has not been published  
elsewhere in any language.  
11. Abawi S, Mohammed S. Practical Engineering of the  
Environment, Water Testing. Dar al-Hikma for Printing and  
Publishing, Mosul, Iraq. 1990.  
1
2. APHA, WPCF, AWWA. Standard Methods for the Examination  
th  
of Water and Wastewater. 20 ed., Washington, D.C. 1998.  
Competing interests  
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that  
would prejudice the impartiality of this scientific work.  
1
3. Kadhim N, Ahmed R. Experimental Study of Magnetization  
Effect on Ground Water Properties. Jordan Journal of Civil  
Engineering. 2018;12(2):254-262.  
1
4. Tariq N. The effect of magnetic field on the solubility of NaCl and  
CaCl  
2
.2(H  
2
O) at different temperature and pH values. Basrah  
of Agricultural Sciences. 2012;25(1):19-26.  
Authors’ contribution  
All authors of this study have a complete contribution for  
data collection, data analyses and manuscript writing.  
1
1
1
5. McCooke, N, West J. The Coagulation of Kaolinite Suspension  
6. Sulav A. Aspects of benefiting from magnetized water technology  
in agriculture and public health in Iraq. Journal of the College of  
Basic Education. 2016;22(94):481-500.  
7. Alias M, Ayham T, Mohammed A. Negative Effect of Sewage  
Water on Environment and Techniques of Treatment. International  
Journal of Management and Applied Science. 2019;5(1):46-50.  
IRAJ DOI Number - IJMAS-IRAJ-DOI-14979  
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