FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM

ECW 568 – ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

LABORATORY MANUAL

COURSE ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY

COURSE CODE ECW568
LEVEL OF OPENNESS 1
CATEGORY PARTIALLY OPEN ENDED
DEGREE OF OPEN-ENDED (%) 33
PERIOD OF ACTIVITY 1 WEEK

TITLE VOLATILE SUSPENDED SOLIDS

INTRODUCTION
Volatile solids are the material lost after ignition at 550oC and those
that remain as residue is called Fixed solids. The determination of VSS
is useful in control operation of wastewater treatment plant operation
because it offers a general rough approximation of the amount of
organic matter present in the wastewater, activated sludge, and
industrial wastes.

OBJECTIVES
1. To determine the concentration of volatile solids and fixed solids in
PREAMBLE
water samples.
2. To analyze the data and interpret the results of VSS experiment.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the laboratory activities, students would be able:
1. To acquire and develop sublime psychomotor skills in conducting
laboratory experiments.
2. To work as a team, demonstrate leadership and enhance
communication skills through discussion.

PROBLEM STATEMENT
The quality of surface waters is easily deteriorated by various human
activities. A water sample taken from Sg. Klang is to be examined. You
PROBLEM STATEMENT are required to conduct Volatile Suspended Solid test and identify both
organic and inorganic matters in the water sample by using the
appropriate apparatus in environmental laboratory.

APPARATUS
Analytical balance, desiccators, aluminium dishes, muffle furnace

PROCEDURES
WAYS AND MEANS 1. Weight the aluminium dish to the nearest 0.1g.
2. Mix the sample and add the sample to the aluminium dish.
3. Place the sample in a preheated oven and evaporate at 103-
105 °C for approximately 6 hours.

4. Take the dish out of the oven and allow it to cool to room
FAKULTI KEJURUTERAAN AWAM
ECW 568 – ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING LABORATORY
LABORATORY MANUAL

temperature in a desiccator.
5. Weight the dish to the nearest 0.1g using the analytical
balance.
6. Transfer the dish into preheated muffle furnace at 550
°C for 30 minutes then take the dish out with thongs
and let it cool to room temperature in desiccator.
7. Weight the dish to the nearest 0.1g and repeat ignition until
2 successive samples weighing do not differ by more than
4% or 0.05g, which ever less.
8. The loss of weight is the total volatile solids. Weighted
residue is total fixed solids.
9. Calculation:

A = weight (mg) of solids + dish before ignition

B = weight (mg) of solids + dish after ignition
C = weight (mg) of dish

DATA ANALYSIS
All data collected and observed during the test must be tabulated in
proper format for easy verification and presentation of the technical
report

RESULTS, ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION

Each group is required to submit a technical report of the laboratory
results highlighting the apparatus used, the procedures undertaken for
the test, data acquisition process, analysis carried out and the
relevancy of the set-out output to address the given problem. The
RESULTS format of the technical report can be done according to the creativity
and the discretion of the group members.

The report must be submitted within SEVEN (7) days after the
completion of the test.