TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

1.0

OBJECTIVE

To provide and strengthen knowledge, skill, and understanding in solid determination and
enable to relate theories taught to the practices in laboratory.
2.0

LEARNING OUTCOME

At the end of this course students are able to :

a) Apply knowledge in solid determination
b) Analyze the laboratory result and differentiate between suspended solid and
dissolve solid.
c) Identify problem and use their generic skill to solve problems.
d) Develop their ability to work in group.
3.0

THEORY
3.1

Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

Total suspended solids is a water quality measurement usually abbreviated TSS. It

is listed as a conventional pollutant in the U.S. Clean Water Act. This parameter was at
one time called non-filterable residue (NFR), a term that refers to the identical
measurement: the dry-weight of particles trapped by a filter, typically of a specified pore
size. However, the term "non-filterable" suffered from an odd (for science) condition of
usage: in some circles (Oceanography, for example) "filterable" meant the material
retained on a filter, so non-filterable would be the water and particulates that passed
through the filter. In other disciplines (Chemistry and Microbiology for examples) and
dictionary definitions, "filterable" means just the opposite: the material passed by a filter,
usually called "Total dissolved solids" or TDS. Thus in chemistry the non-filterable solids
are the retained material called the residue.
TSS of a water sample is determined by pouring a carefully measured volume of
water (typically one litre; but less if the particulate density is high, or as much as two or

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

three litres for very clean water) through a pre-weighed filter of a specified pore size,
then weighing the filter again after drying to remove all water. Filters for TSS
measurements are typically composed of glass fibres.[1] The gain in weight is a dry
weight measure of the particulates present in the water sample expressed in units derived
or calculated from the volume of water filtered (typically milligrams per litre or mg/l).
Recognise that if the water contains an appreciable amount of dissolved substances (as
certainly would be the case when measuring TSS in seawater), these will add to the
weight of the filter as it is dried. Therefore it is necessary to "wash" the filter and sample
with deionized water after filtering the sample and before drying the filter. Failure to add
this step is a fairly common mistake made by inexperienced laboratory technicians
working with sea water samples, and will completely invalidate the results as the weight
of salts left on the filter during drying can easily exceed that of the suspended particulate
matter.
Although turbidity purports to measure approximately the same water quality property as
TSS, the latter is more useful because it provides an actual weight of the particulate
material present in the sample. In water quality monitoring situations, a series of more
labor intensive TSS measurements will be paired with relatively quick and easy turbidity
measurements to develop a site-specific correlation. Once satisfactorily established, the
correlation can be used to estimate TSS from more frequently made turbidity
measurements, saving time and effort. Because turbidity readings are somewhat
dependent on particle size, shape, and color, this approach requires calculating a
correlation equation for each location. Further, situations or conditions that tend to
suspend larger particles through water motion (e.g., increase in a stream current or wave
action) can produce higher values of TSS not necessarily accompanied by a
corresponding increase in turbidity. This is because particles above a certain size
(essentially anything larger than silt) are not measured by a bench turbidity meter (they
settle out before the reading is taken), but contribute substantially to the TSS value.

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

3.2

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

Total Dissolved Solids (often abbreviated TDS) is a measure of the combined

content of all inorganic and organic substances contained in a liquid in: molecular,
ionized or micro-granular (colloidal sol) suspended form. Generally the operational
definition is that the solids must be small enough to survive filtration through a sieve the
size of two micrometer. Total dissolved solids are normally discussed only for freshwater
systems, as salinity comprises some of the ions constituting the definition of TDS. The
principal application of TDS is in the study of water quality for streams, rivers andlakes,
although TDS is not generally considered a primary pollutant (e.g. it is not deemed to be
associated with health effects) it is used as an indication of aesthetic characteristics
of drinking water and as an aggregate indicator of the presence of a broad array of
chemical contaminants.
Primary sources for TDS in receiving waters are agricultural and residential
runoff, leaching of soil contamination and point source water pollutiondischarge from
industrial or sewage treatment plants. The most common chemical constituents
are calcium, phosphates, nitrates, sodium, potassiumand chloride,

which

are

found

in nutrient runoff, general stormwater runoff and runoff from snowy climates where
road de-icing salts are applied. The chemicals may be cations, anions, molecules or
agglomerations on the order of one thousand or fewer molecules, so long as a soluble
micro-granule is formed. More exotic and harmful elements of TDS are pesticides arising
from surface runoff. Certain naturally occurring total dissolved solids arise from the
weathering and dissolution of rocks and soils. The United States has established a
secondary water quality standard of 500 mg/l to provide for palatability of drinking water.
Total dissolved solids are differentiated from total suspended solids (TSS), in that
the latter cannot pass through a sieve of two micrometers and yet are indefinitely
suspended in solution. The term "settleable solids" refers to material of any size that will
not remain suspended or dissolved in a holding tank not subject to motion, and excludes
both TDS and TSS.[1] Settleable solids may include larger particulate matter or insoluble
molecules.
3.3

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

Total Dissolved Solids (often abbreviated TDS) is a measure of the combined

content of all inorganic and organic substances contained in a liquid in: molecular,
ionized or micro-granular (colloidal sol) suspended form. Generally the operational
definition is that the solids must be small enough to survive filtration through a sieve the
size of two micrometer. Total dissolved solids are normally discussed only for freshwater
systems, as salinity comprises some of the ions constituting the definition of TDS. The
principal application of TDS is in the study of water quality for streams, rivers andlakes,
although TDS is not generally considered a primary pollutant (e.g. it is not deemed to be
associated with health effects) it is used as an indication of aesthetic characteristics
of drinking water and as an aggregate indicator of the presence of a broad array of
chemical contaminants.
Primary sources for TDS in receiving waters are agricultural and residential
runoff, leaching of soil contamination and point source water pollutiondischarge from
industrial or sewage treatment plants. The most common chemical constituents
are calcium, phosphates, nitrates, sodium, potassiumand chloride,

which

are

found

in nutrient runoff, general stormwater runoff and runoff from snowy climates where
road de-icing salts are applied. The chemicals may be cations, anions, molecules or
agglomerations on the order of one thousand or fewer molecules, so long as a soluble
micro-granule is formed. More exotic and harmful elements of TDS are pesticides arising
from surface runoff. Certain naturally occurring total dissolved solids arise from the
weathering and dissolution of rocks and soils. The United States has established a
secondary water quality standard of 500 mg/l to provide for palatability of drinking water.

Total dissolved solids are differentiated from total suspended solids (TSS), in that
the latter cannot pass through a sieve of two micrometers and yet are indefinitely

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

suspended in solution. The term "settleable solids" refers to material of any size that will
not remain suspended or dissolved in a holding tank not subject to motion, and excludes
both TDS and TSS.[1] Settleable solids may include larger particulate matter or insoluble
molecules.

* By convention, nominal filter pore size is 0.45 m

** Total solids determined by evaporation (103-105 C) of whole sample, without
o

filtration
(Total) Volatile solids = f + h
Fixed or Non-volatile total solids = g + i

4.0

DIAGRAM

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

Settleable
solids

Imhoff
cone

Samples

Microwave
(at 103 c105c)

Fibre
glass filter
( < 2.0
m)

Microwave (at
103 c- 105c)

Microwave (at
180 c- 2c)

Dissolved
solids (DS)

Suspended
solids (ss)

Muffle furnace
( at 500 c -50 c)

Volatile
suspended
solids (VSS)

Total
solids
(TS)

Muffle furnace ( at
500 c -50 c)

Fixed
suspended
solids (FSS)

Total Volatile solids

(TVS) = VSS + VDS

Volatile
dissolved
solids (VDS)

Fixed
dissolved
solids (FDS)

Total Fixed solids

(TFS) = FSS + FDS

Total solids (TS)

5.0

EQUIPMENTS AND MATERIALS

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

1. Sets of evaporating dishes: dishes of 100 ml capacity made of porcelain,
platinum or high silica glass and apparatus.

2. Muffle furnace for operating at 500 0C + 50 0C

3. Desicator

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

4. Vacuum pump

5. 10 ml pipette

6. Oven operating at the temperature 180 0C

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

7. Analytical balance

6.0

PROCEDURE

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

A. Total Solid Test

i.

Weight of empty evaporation dish is taken.

ii.

The sample is poured into the dish

iii.

The sample on evaporating dish is weighted

iv.

The sample is placed in the incubator for drying process at 180C for
30 minutes.

v.

After 30 minutes the sample to removed from incubator and place in

the desicator to cool up for 10 minutes.

vi.

The sample is weight.

vii.

The sample is put in the furnace for drying process at 300C

viii.

After 15 minutes, sample size is removed, the sample place in the

desicator again for 10 minutes and after that the weight is taken.

B. Total Solid Suspended Solid Test

i.

Put the filter pad in defecator. The purpose is to drying or inquiring,

cooling, desiccating and weighing until the weight of the filter pad
change less then 4% or 0.5 mg from the pervious weight.

ii.

After remove from the desiccators, each filter is weighed and the
weight is logged on the beach sheet in the appropriated section.

iii.

Use tweeters to put the filter pad at the top of the vacuum(stream
both).

iv.

Put the filter pad at the aluminum pad.

10

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

v.

Weight the filter pad and the aluminum pad

vi.

Put the sample at the steel tray. Leave the filter pad for a while

vii.

Weight again the filter pad and aluminum pad again.

viii.

Put the filter pad and aluminum in the furnace for 15 minute.

ix.

Remove the filter pad and aluminum and weight again to record data.

C. Total Dissolved Solid Test.

i. Measure the volume of the sample water. Use 5ml for each sample water
in the evaporation dishes.
ii. Weight the sample water record.
iii. Put the sample water and evaporating dished in the oven for 30 minutes at
180C and cool the sample water.
iv. Remove from desiccators, each sample water and the evaporating dishes is
get the weight.
v. Put the sample water and evaporating dishes in the furnace for 15 minutes
at 300C.
vi. Remove the sample water and the evaporating dishes from furnace. Put it
in the dictator for 10 minutes to balance the temperature and weight.

7.0

RESULT AND CALCULATION

11

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

TOTAL SOLID

Sample A
1

Volume of sample (ml)

Weight of evaporating dish (g)

46.3968

Weight of evaporating dish + sample

52.5100

Weight of sample (g)

= (3 2)

Weight of evaporating dish + sample

after drying process at 103oC - 105oC

Weight of solid (g)

= (5 2)

7
8

Weight of evaporating dish ( g ) +

solid after drying process at 103c105c
Weight of volatile solid ( g )

6.1132

48.1830

1.7862

46.3924
1.7906

Total Solid (TS) (mg/L)

= [(5 2)g x 1000] / 5 mL

357.24

10

Percentage of solid in sample (%)

= (6 / 4 ) x 100

29.2187

11 Total volatile solid ( VS ) ( mg/L )

12 Percentage of volatile solid ( % )

358.12 x 103
29.29

12

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLID

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Volume of Sample (ml)

Weight of filter paper (g)
Weight of filter paper + solid after
drying at 103oC - 105oC or at 180oC
Weight of solid (g)
Weight of filter + solid after drying
at 500oC 50oC (g)
Weight of volatile solid (g)
Total Suspended Solid (SS) (mg/L)
Percentage of Volatile Suspended
Solid (VSS) %

Sample A
5
0.0930
11.8649
11.7719
0.0866
2.3560
2.3544
235.6

13

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLID

Sample A
5

Volume of sample (ml)

Weight of evaporating dish (g)

47.1346

Weight of evaporating dish +

sample (g)

52.3292

Weight of sample (g)

= (3 2)

5.1946

Weight of evaporating dish

+
o
sample after drying at 180 C (g)

47.1516

Weight of Solid (g)

= (5 2)

0.0170

Total Dissolve Solid (TDS) (mg/L)

= [(5 2) x 1000] / 5

3.400

Weight of evaporating dish + solid

after drying at 500oC 50oC (g)

47.1348

Weight of dissolved solid (g)

= (8 2)

0.0002

Total dissolved Solid (SS) (mg/L)

10 = [(8 2) x 1000] / 100

11

Percentage of Volatile dissolved

Solid (VSS) %
= (10 / 7) x 100

0.002

0.0588

CALCULATION FOR TOTAL SOLID

14

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

1) weight of sample
Sample A :

= (3) (2)
= 52.5100 46.3968
= 6.1132 g

2) Weight of dissolved solid

Sample A :

= (5) (2)
= 48.1830 46.3968
= 1.7862 g

3) Weight of volatile solid

Sample A :

= (5) (7)
= 48.1830 46.3924
= 1.7906 g

4) Total solid
Sample A :

=
=
=
=

(6)
103 103
Volume of sample
Weight of solid x 103 103
Volume of sample
(1.7862 x 103 x 103 ) / 5 ml
357.24 mg/L

5) Percentage of solid in sample

Sample A :

= [(6) / weight of sample ] x 100%

= [ (1.7862) / 6.1132] x 100%
= 29.22 %

6) Total volatile solid

Sample A :

= [ (8) / volume of sample] x 103 x 103

= [ (1.7906) / 5 ] x 103 x 103
= 358.12 x 103 mg/L

7) Percentage of volatile solid

Sample A :

= [(8) / weight of sample] x 100%

= [(1.7906) / 6.1132 ] x 100 %
= 29.29 %

15

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

CALCULATION FOR TOTAL SUSPENDED SOLID
1) Weight of Filter Paper
Sample A :
Evaporating Dish + Filter Paper = 18.3669 g
Evaporating Dish
= 18.2739 g
So, weight of filter paper
= 18.3669 18.2739= 0.0930 g
2) Weight of filter paper + solid after drying at 103oC - 105oC or at 180oC
Sample A:
Weight of Evaporating Dish
= 18.2739 g
Weight of Evaporating Dish + Filter Paper + Solid after drying = 30.1388 g
So, Weight of filter paper + solid after drying at at 180oC
= 30.1388 18.2739
= 11.8649g
3) Weight of Solid
Sample A:
Weight of Evaporating Dish
= 18.2739 g
Weight of Evaporating Dish + Filter Paper + Solid = 30.1388 g
Weight of Filter Paper
= 0.0930 g
So, Weight of Solid = 30.1388 18.2739 0.0930 = 11.7719 g
4) Weight of filter + solid after drying at 500oC 50oC (g)
Sample A:
Weight of Evaporating Dish
= 18.2739 g
Weight of Evaporating Dish + Filter Paper + Solid after drying = 18.3605 g
So, Weight of filter + solid after drying at 500oC 50oC (g)
= 18.3605 18.2739
= 0.0866 g
5) Weight of volatile solid (g)
[(Weight of residue + dish or filter before ignition) (Weight of residue + dish or filter
after ignition)] x 1000 / 20

16

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

Sample A:
Weight of residue + dish or filter before ignition
Weight of residue + dish or filter after ignition
So, Weight of volatile solid = 11.8649 0.0866

= 11.8649 g
= 0.0866 g
= 0.01178mg x 1000 / 5
= 2.3560 g

6) Total Suspended Solid (SS)

[(Weight of filter + dried residue) (Weight filter)] x 1000 / 5
Sample A:
Weight of filter + dried residue = 11.8649 g
Weight filter
= 0.0930 g
So, Total Suspended Solid
= 11.8649 0.0930 = 11.7719g x 1000 /5
= 2.3544 mg/L
7) Percentage of Volatile Suspended Solid (VSS) %
Sample A:
Weight of volatile solid x 100 = 2.356 x 100 = 235.6

CALCULATION FOR TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLID

17

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

1) weight of sample
Sample A :

= (3) (2)
= 52.3292 47.1346
= 5.1946 g

2) Weight of dissolved solid

Sample A :

= (5) (2)
= 47.1516 47.1346
= 0.017 g

3) Total dissolved solid

Sample A :

=
=
=
=

(6)
103 103
Volume of sample
Weight of solid x 103 103
Volume of sample
(0.017 x 103 x 103 ) / 5 ml
3.4000 mg/L

4) Weight of dissolved solid

Sample A :

= [(8) (2)]
= 47.1348 47.1346
= 0.0002 g

5) Total dissolved solid

Sample A :

= [ ( 8 2 ) x 1000 } / 100
= [ 0.0002 x 1000 ] / 100
= 0.002 mg/L

6) Percentage of volatile dissolved solid

Sample A :

8.0

= [ (10) / (7) ] x 100%

= [ (0.002) / (3.4)] x 100%
= 0.0588 %

DISCUSSION

18

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

1. Distinguish between suspended solid and dissolve solid.

Total suspended solids are retained on a filter and weighed while total dissolved
solids are solids dissolved in the solution that passes through the filter.
A suspended solid refers to small solid particles which remain in suspension in
water as a colloid or due to the motion of the water. It is used as one indicator of
water quality.
The dissolved is a very small pieces of organic and inorganic material contained
in water. Excessive amounts make water unfit to drink or limit its use in industrial
processes.
2. Suggest some possible causes of high levels of total suspended solids
The possible causes of high levels of total suspended solids in could be:
a) Domestic Wastewater has low TSS(around 400mg/L) because this domestic
wastewater is discharged from our household usages: we are not using more solid
from our house.
b) Industrial Wastewater- has high TSS(around few 1000mg/L) because, the clean
water is used for various purposes in various industries. Not all industry discharge
wastewater with high TSS but some industries like tannery industries, food
industry discharge wastewater weight high TSS. Here the causes of high TSS are
animal hair, preservatives and coloring agent.

3. The suspended solid for a wastewater sample was found to be 175mg/L. If the
following test results were obtained, what size sample was used in the
analysis?
Tare mass of glass fibre filter = 1.5413g
Residue on glass fibre filter after drying at 1050C = 1.5538 g

Total Suspended Solid (TSS), mg/L =____(A B) x 106_____

19

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

Volume of Sample (mL)

Where :
A : Residue on glass fibre filter after drying at 105oC (g)
B : Tare mass of glass fibre filter (g)
175 mg/L = (1. 5538- 1. 5413) x 106
Volume of sample (mL)
Volume of sample (mL) = (1.5538- 1. 5413) x 106
175 mg/L
= 71.4286 mL

9.0

CONCLUSION
From the experiment, we able to charaterise a water sample with respect to

its solid content. Total solid in water are due to suspended matter and dissolved matter.
These are determined separately and then added together. The suspended solids are found
by filtering the water through a fine filter. The material retained on the filter is weighed.
This gives the dissolved matter. Total solids includes both total suspended solids and total
dissolved solids.
The average value of total solid (TS) is 357.24 mg/L, total suspended solid (TSS)
is 2.3544 mg/L, total dissolved solid (TDS) is 3.4 mg/L. Interim National River Water
Quality Standard for Malaysia(INWQS) can also be used to determine the quality of

20

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

water in stream. It is based on parameter measured then, compared the data with the
INQWS.
Total dissolved solids are includes all solids present in a water sample filtered . It
determined by evaporating a known volume of the filtrate sample in a 180 oC oven. Total
suspended solids is includes all solids present in a sample that remain on filter.
Determined by filtering a known volume of sample and placing the filter and filter
container in a 180 oC oven to evaporate the water. Fixed solids is solids that remain after
firing a sample in a 300 oC muffle furnace. It can be performed on total, dissolved, or
suspended samples to determine

total fixed solids, fixed dissolved solids, or fixed

suspended solids. Volatile solids is solids that removed by firing a sample in a 300 oC
muffle furnace. It

can be performed on total, dissolved, or suspended samples to

determine total volatile solids, volatile dissolved solids, or volatile suspended solids.
The result that we have obtained do not have proper standard, it is because we had
to use a temperature of 300 oC for muffle furnace. From this experiment, we can identify
that temperature plays an important role to obtain accurate results.

10.0

REFERENCES

Metcalf & Eddy (2003) Wastewater Engineering, Treatment and Reuse, 4th ed.
McGraw-Hill, New York.

Mackenzie L. Davis & David A. Cornwell (2008) Introduction to Environmental

Engineering, 4th ed. McGraw-Hill, New York.

Hans Hermann Rump (1999). Laboratary Manual for the examination of Water,
Wastewater and Soil. 3rd ed.Wiley-Vch, Weinheim.

21

TOTAL SOLID DETERMINATION

General Information on Solids. 15th January 2011 retrieved from

http://bcn.boulder.co.us/basin/data/NEW/info/TSS.html

Total dissolved solids. 16th January 2011 retrieved from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_dissolved_solids

Standard Methods Committee, 1997

http://www.norweco.com/html/lab/test_methods/2540dfp.htm

22