OBJECTIVE

The objective of this experiment is to determine the various types of solids in tap water,
drinking water, and secondary effluent.

INTRODUCTION
Solids refer to matter suspended or dissolved in water or wastewater. Solids may affect water
or effluent quality adversely in a number of ways. Waters with high dissolved solids generally
are of inferior palatability and may induce an unfavourable physiological reaction in the
transient consumer. For these reasons, a limit of 500 mg dissolved solids per liter is desirable
for drinking waters. Highly mineralized waters also are unsuitable for many industrial
applications. Waters high in suspended solids may be esthetically unsatisfactory for such
purposes as bathing. Solids analysis are important in the control of biological and physical
wastewater treatment processes and for assessing compliance with regulatory agency
wastewater effluent limitations.
Total Solids is the term applied to the material residue left in the vessel after evaporation of a
sample and its subsequent drying in an oven at a defined temperature (103-1050C). Total
suspended solids refer to the nonfilterable residue retained by a standard filter disk and dried
at 103-1050C. Total dissolved solids refer to the filterable residue that pass through a
standard filter disk and remain after evaporation and drying to constant weight at 103-1050C.
The environmental impacts of solids are that solids in all forms have detrimental effects on
quality since they cause putrifaction problems. Suspended solids exclude light, thus reducing
the growth of oxygen producing plants. Solids impair aesthetic acceptability of water.

MATERIALS
Porcelain dish (100 ml), steam bath, drying oven, muffle furnace, desiccator, Gooch crucible,
analytical balance, glass fiber filter disk, filtration apparatus, pipettes, measuring cylinders.

PROCEDURE
a) Total Solids (From Experiment 1)
1. Ignite a clean evaporating dish at 5500C in a muffle furnace for 1 hr.
2. Cool the dish, weigh and keep it in a desiccator.
3. Transfer carefully 50 ml of sample into the dish and evaporate to dryness on a steam bath.
4. Place the evaporated sample in an oven adjusted at 1030C and dry it for 1 hr.
5. Repeat drying at 1030C till constant weight is obtained.
6. Determine the total solids with the following formula: mg/l total solids = ((A-B) * 106) /
ml sample, where
A = weight of residue + dish
B = weight of dish

b) Total suspended solids (From Experiment 2)

1. Place a filter disk on the bottom of a clean Gooch crucible.
2. Pour 20 ml distilled water and apply vacuum. Repeat the process two more times.
3. Remove crucible to an oven and dry it for 1 hr at 1030C.
4. After drying, the crucible is kept in a desiccator.
5. Weigh the crucible and place it on a suction unit.
6. Pour 25 ml of sample. Wash pipette with distilled water and pour the washing also into the
crucible.
7. After filtration, dry the crucible at 1030C for 1 hr
8. Weigh till constant weight is obtained.
9. Determine the total suspended solids with the following formula:
Mg/l total suspended solids = ((A-B) * 106) / ml sample where:
A = weight of residue and crucible
B = weight of crucible

c) Total Dissolved Solids:

1. Mg/l total dissolved solids = total solids total suspended solids
d) Sample Calculation:
2

Problem: The following data was obtained from the analysis of wastewater from a food
processing industry. Find out total solids, total suspended solids, and total dissolved solids.

1. Total Solids (TS)

Volume of sample = 22 ml
Weight of dish = 75.196 g
Weigh of dish and sample after dying = 75.263 g
Weigh of dish and sample after ignition = 75.253 g
Total Solids = (75.263 75.196) * 10^6 = 3045.45mg/l
22

1. Total Fixed Solids (TFS)

Total Fixed Solids = (75.253 75.196)* 10^6 = 2590.91mg/l
22
2. Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
Total suspended solids (TSS) of sample:
Mass of filter paper, gram M4 = 0.2169 g
Mass of filter paper + dried solids, M5 = 0.2200 g
Mass of filter paper + ignites solids, M6 = 0.2185 g
Total Suspended Solids =( 0.2200 - 0.2169)*10^6 = 140.9mg/l
22

2. Fixed Suspended Solids (FSS)

Fixed Suspended Solids = (0.2185 0.2169)*10^6 = 72.72mg/l
22

CALCULATION

TVS = TS TFS = 3045.45 - 2590.91 = 454.54mg/l

TDS = TS TSS = 3045.45 - 140.9= 2904.55mg/l

FDS = TFS FSS = 2590.91 - 72.72 = 2518.19mg/l

VDS = TDS FDS = 2972.73 - 2518.19 = 454.54mg/l

VSS = TSS FSS = 140.9 - 72.72 = 68.18mg/l

DISCUSSION
While conducting this experiment, we realised some error might occurred that would affected
the result. Some sample might be stuck when it was poured out for filtration which affecting
the weight. This matter can be resolve by make sure that the apparatus should be cleaned
carefully. Reading might not accurate while the sample has being transferred from oven or
furnace to the weighing place because its so dry and light that might be influence by wind or
air. Therefore, the experiment should be conducted in suitable environment that will help to
get an accurate data. As conclusion, the experiment was done correctly, and we were able to
get the data required and do the analysis.

SUMMARY
Total solids - includes all solids present in a water sample. Determined directly by
evaporating a known volume of an unfiltered water sample in a 105 oC oven.
Total dissolved solids - includes all solids present in a water sample filtered through a
1.2 m m filter. Determined by evaporating a known volume of the filtrate sample in a 105 oC
oven.
Total suspended solids - includes all solids present in a sample that remain on a 1.2 m m
filter. Determined by filtering a known volume of sample and placing the filter and filter
container in a 105 oC oven for 24 hours to evaporate the water.
Fixed solids - solids that remain after firing a sample in a 550 oC muffle furnace. Can be
performed on total, dissolved, or suspended samples to determine - total fixed solids, fixed
dissolved solids, or fixed suspended solids.
Volatile solids - solids that removed by firing a sample in a 550 oC muffle furnace. Can be
performed on total, dissolved, or suspended samples to determine - total volatile solids,
volatile dissolved solids, or volatile suspended solids.

TDS = TS TSS = 3045.45 - 140.9= 2904.55mg/l

FDS = TFS FSS = 2590.91 - 72.72 = 2518.19mg/l

VSS = TSS FSS = 140.9 - 72.72 = 68.18mg/l

CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, the hypothesis was accepted and the objective of the experiment was met,
we were able find the formula of total dissolved solids (TDS), fixed dissolved solids (FDS),
volatile suspended solids (VSS). We also understand the relationship between TS, TSS and
total suspended solids concentration.
Total dissolved solids (TDS), 2904.55mg/l
Fixed dissolved solids (FDS), 2518.19mg/l
Volatile suspended solids (VSS), 68.18mg/l

REFERENCE
Laboratory Manual, CEEB 221 Introduction to Environmental Engineering Laboratory , 1st
draft October 2013 by CKH.
http://users.humboldt.edu/emcashman/ERE350/SOLIDS.html

TABLE CONTENT

No. Item Page

6.1 Introduction
6.2 Objective
6.3 Apparatus
6.4 Procedure
6.5 Results (Data Observations)
6.6 Discussion
6.7 Summary
6.8 Conclusion
6.9 References