CENTER FOR DIPLOMA STUDIES

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

LABORATORY INSTRUCTION SHEETS

COURSE CODE DAC 10903

COURSE NAME ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

EXPERIMENT TITLE
JAR TEST
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CENTRE FOR DIPLOMA STUDIES

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 Faculty: Centre for Diploma Studies (CeDS)

Department: Civil Engineering

Title: JAR TEST

1.0 OBJECTIVE

 To determine the optimal coagulant dose which will produce the highest removal of a given water turbidity.

2.0 LEARNING OUTCOME

1. To identify the most common coagulant used in the coagulant process.

2. To determine the most effective and optimum dosage of coagulant for a particular mixing intensity and
duration.
3. To understand the complex interrelationships that exists between the chemicals and the constituents of the
water being treated, as well as other factors such as pH, temperature, the intensity and duration of mixing.

3.0 THEORY

Raw water and wastewater is normally turbid containing solid particles of varying sizes. Turbidity in water is caused
by suspended and colloidal matter such as clay, silt, finely divided organic and inorganic matter, and plankton and
other microspic organisms. Particles with sizes greater than 50 µm settle fairly rapidly. The settling velocities of
colloidal particles of sizes less than 50 µm are very slow. Thus, these particles are encouraged to collide leading to
coalescence of particle to form flocs particles, which are bigger and heavier. These particles will have higher settling
velocities and easily settle out.

A very important step in water and wastewater treatment is the coagulation-flocculation process which is widely used,
due to its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Coagulation and flocculation consist of adding a floc-forming chemical
reagent into water or wastewater to encourage the non-settleable colloidal solids (or particles) to collide, leading to
coalescence of particle to form flocs particles (which are bigger and heavier).

Colloidal particles which are not agglomerate by itself due to the presence of repulsive forces need a process to
suppress these forces so as to allow flocs formation. This process is called coagulation process. Coagulant that are
normally used are salts of aluminium namely aluminium sulphate, Al2 (SO4)3 and ferric salts namely ferric
sulphate, Fe2 (SO4)3 and ferric chloride, FeCl3. The non-settleable particles have a negative (-ve) charge, so the
positively charged (+ve) coagulant chemicals neutralized the particles during coagulation. The next process is
flocculation process. It is the gentle agitation process to agglomerate the smaller non-settleable particles (the
neutralized particles). During this process, the neutralized particles (which are not repelling each other) are drawn
together by van der Waal’s forces, hence, forming flocs. The flocs will then settle out in the sedimentation basin, with
remaining floc being removed in the filter.

Concept structure:
Raw
water Treated water
Coagulation Flocculation Sedimentation or
Clarification

Sludge
 Faculty: Centre for Diploma Studies (CeDS)

Department: Civil Engineering

Title: JAR TEST

4.0 EQUIPMENTS AND MATERIALS

1. Jar test apparatus with six rotating paddles blade

2. Six (6) beakers
3. pH meter
4. Turbidity meter
5. Pipette

REAGENT

1. Aluminum sulfate (alum) with a known concentration or anionic/cationic coagulant such as ferrous
sulfate and ferric chloride.

5.0 PROCEDURES

1.0 Prepare the wastewater sample. Premix samples to obtain consistent conditions in all jars.
2.0 Measure the temperature, pH and turbidity of the water sample.
3.0 Place the prepared wastewater from (1) into six (6) different beakers (plexiglass graduated
beakers) with one litre each.

a. Add 1 - 5 ml of coagulant (alum/ferrous sulfate/ferric chloride/natural coagulant) by using a

measuring pipette into beaker 1,2,3,4 and 5 while in beaker 6, no alum was added as it acts
as a control sample.
b. Measure the pH and turbidity of each beaker by using pH and turbidity meter.

4.0 Start stirring rapidly (60 to 80 rpm) for 3 minutes.

5.0 Reduce the speed (30 rpm) for about 20 minutes.
6.0 Observe the flocculation process and record the floc formation in final 10 minutes by referring to
the chart of particle sizes provided as in Figure 1.
7.0 After the stirring period is over, stop the stirrer and allow the flocs to settle for about 5 minutes.
8.0 Separate out 500 mL of settled water into another beaker.
9.0 Determine the temperature, pH and turbidity of the clarified water.

Figure 1 : Jar test apparatus

 Faculty: Centre for Diploma Studies (CeDS)

Department: Civil Engineering

Title: JAR TEST

10.0 RESULTS AND CALCULATION

Fill in the table provided in the bench sheet.

11.0 DATA ANALYSIS

1. Compare the level of turbidity in each sample.

2. With the aid of a graph:
i) Show the relationship between pH with respect to coagulant dosage.
ii) Show the relationship between turbidity with respect to coagulant dosage.
3. From the graph, get the optimum value for coagulant dose of the coagulation process.

12.0 DISCUSSION

1. By using aluminium sulphate, the mechanism is :

3
Al + + 3H2O  Al(OH)3 + 3H

Describe the mechanism of reaction if the aluminium sulphate is replaced by ferum chloride
(FeCl3).
2. Differentiate between coagulation and flocculation process.
3. What are the common coagulant used?
4. Describe how the coagulant works during coagulation-flocculation process?
5. During the experiment, the speed of the flocculator need to be reduced from 80 rpm to 30 rpm. Why?
6. The velocity or the speed of flocculator is one of the important factor during coagulation. List another
three important factors influencing coagulation.
7. Discuss the caution that you consider and errors occur (if any) during the experiment.

13.0 CONCLUSION

(Student shall write the conclusion based on the experiment)

Faculty: Centre for Diploma Studies (CeDS)

Department: Civil Engineering

Title: JAR TEST

Scale for measurement of floc sizes

Very fine

Very fine / fine

Fine

Moderately fine

Moderate

Coarse

Very Coarse

Figure 1: Scale for measurement of floc sizes

 Faculty: Centre for Diploma Studies (CeDS)

Department: Civil Engineering

Title: JAR TEST

14.0 BENCH SHEET

Table 14.1 JAR TEST (Set the coagulant dose)

Initial turbidity : _______ NTU

Initial pH : _______
pH adjustment (base) : ______ mg/L of ____________
pH adjustment (acid) : ______ mg/L of ___________
Coagulant concentration : _______ mg/L

Jar No 1 2 3 4 5 6
pH
Coagulant dose 1 2 3 4 5 control
(mg/L)
Agitate (minute) None
Fast (rpm) None
Slow (rpm) None
Settling depth (mm)
Turbidity (NTU)
Floc formation (final
10 minutes) *

* Floc formation can be recorded by referring to the measurement scale as depicted in Figure 1.